Opinion: Short-form content erodes focus. Consume media mindfully.
As the new year sparks digital detoxes, our columnist argues the rise of short-form content is damaging attention spans and habits. Choosing media that demands focus is powerful act of resistance against scrolling, she writes. Emma Soto | Contributing Illustrator
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As the new year begins, people tend to embark on a digital detox as part of their resolutions. A survey led by Headway recorded that 45% of people hope to reduce screen time, 23% of people to replace doomscrolling with learning and 17% of people to delete social media. These efforts point to a growing concern about today’s screen habits: the rise of short-form content.
According to a Microsoft study, the average human attention span was 12 seconds in the year 2000. Today, it has dropped to eight. This decline signals a broader shift in how we consume information. As the content we consume gets shorter, so does our ability to focus.
Over the past few years, short-form content has ruined the way people consume media. Platforms like TikTok, Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts allow viewers to consume content faster than ever. With each scroll, users receive a quick burst of dopamine — a reward response that keeps them engaged and scrolling. As this behavior becomes routine, it becomes harder to focus for extended periods of time.
Short-form platforms are designed to maximize engagement by providing immediate value. Videos are often under a minute long and aim to entertain or inform almost instantly. If a viewer loses interest in one video, they can immediately switch to another. There’s no need to commit to a single piece of content or see it through to the end. This constant cycle of stimulation encourages instant gratification rather than conscious participation.
As a result, users are rarely required to sit with boredom or discomfort, both of which are essential for focus and critical thinking. Over time, the brain adapts to these patterns. Studies in cognitive psychology suggest that frequent exposure to rapid, high-reward stimuli weakens the brain’s ability to concentrate on slower, more demanding tasks.
Sophia Burke | Digital Design Director
But, this behavior isn’t confined to just the digital world. As engaging in short-form content becomes habitual, the brain begins to crave short-term rewards in daily life as well. Tasks that require patience or long-term effort, such as studying, reading or exercising, can start to feel overwhelming or unrewarding. Motivation for these activities declines as they don’t provide the same instant feedback as scrolling does.
Despite its negative impacts, short-form content continues to grow in popularity largely because of its accessibility. For instance, TikTok surpassed one billion monthly active users over just five years, making it one of the fastest-growing social media platforms ever. Algorithms tailor content to individual preferences, reducing the need for intentional choice and creating an oversaturation of content.
The solution isn’t to reject technology altogether. Opting for more deliberate forms of media, such as podcasts and books, requires greater focus but offers longer-lasting benefits including deeper comprehension and retention. These formats reduce the risk of passive consumption, the habit of absorbing content without active engagement or critical thinking. It’s easy and automatic, making it precisely the kind of behavior today’s click-driven media encourages.
Choosing media that requires attention is an act of resistance against a system built to keep users disengaged from their own thinking.
It’s also important to set boundaries on our use of digital platforms. Small changes, like setting time limits, disabling autoplay and being selective about platforms can help prevent endless scrolling without feeling restrictive. Offline activities, from creative hobbies to exercise, provide stimulation without the cognitive overload. These alternatives offer presence rather than distraction and, unlike short-form content, require sustained attention and provide lasting gratification.
When a large number of people feel the need to “detox” from their devices, it signals a problem worth addressing. Short-form content has consequences that are becoming increasingly difficult to ignore. Deciding to consume content with intention is one of the most meaningful resolutions we can make.
Gain Lim is a freshman majoring in Health & Exercise Science. She can be reached at glim06@syr.edu
