More on Short Videos than Reading?
By ratyz5
@ratyz5 (7808)
Philippines
February 13, 2023 8:26pm CST
Lately, I've noticed that more and more of the new generation these days prefer to watch multiple short videos that they don't notice how time goes by. Tik Tok and You tube Shorts are just a few but definitely, there are more out there like those short Reels in facebook.
It seems that immediate gratification can't be denied when one watches those short and interesting videos. I also watch a few every now and then, but I am not sure if it would be beneficial for those getting trained in such a way in the long run. Some of the studies that I get to watch (yeah, even these studies, I've watch from these short form videos) say that if one gets used to being gratified with these short form videos, their attention retention tends to be shorter and some would even have a hard time finishing a long film, and would look down at their phones even while the film is still in the middle of everything.
The habit of reading only seems to occur when demanded, especially in schools, but even teaching materials these days are all accessible online, which can be easily distracted by notifications of other apps and social media platforms.
I don't know.. it just feels like this..
5 people like this
5 responses
@DaddyEvil (137142)
• United States
14 Feb 23
I'm not sure how valid those studies actually are... I read a lot but also like to watch YT videos, even the shorts. I have a young friend who preferred the short videos and rarely reads but I've gotten him hooked on full length science videos on YT now. He loves space and talks to me a lot about the videos I find and suggest to him.
I think it depends on the person and their personal interests.
3 people like this
@ratyz5 (7808)
• Philippines
14 Feb 23
I just notice them on the youth lately, as they've grown into this era where almost all things are accessible digitally and conveniently through their mobile phones and/or computers with data access.
Indeed, it still depends on the person and their personal interests. They could be so interested on whatever it is that they got to watch in short form online that they might go on searching and searching for more until they end up actually reading the books from which the ideas where these videos they've watched came from.
2 people like this
@DaddyEvil (137142)
• United States
14 Feb 23
@ratyz5 My young friend still isn't interested in reading but will keep asking me questions until I've talked more than a book length and still watch full length videos that I suggest to him.
He and I have some really detailed conversations. I'm enjoying conversing with him.
2 people like this
@ratyz5 (7808)
• Philippines
14 Feb 23
@DaddyEvil
Even the way in accessing, processing and absorbing of information, people would have each particular preference on how they would access and process them.
@ratyz5 (7808)
• Philippines
14 Feb 23
For reading, I prefer the right size of text so my eyes wouldn't strain too hard when the letters are small. I end up squinting too much and get to read the same line again. Of course, actual books or pages from printed materials aren't as bright as screens could be configured, but you would still need a light source so that one can see what we are intending to read.
I guess we could zoom in and out of pages when we read materials on the screen, but I really do like how it feels when we actually hold the manuscript or how we feel for the pages with our fingers when we're moving on to the next page.
@quantum2020 (12040)
• Ciudad De Mexico, Mexico
14 Feb 23
We´ve become an eclectic generation. I have also tried to watch entire movies from beginning to end but in the middle of the movie, I find myself doing other things. I don´t watch short videos much but I search for information a lot on the internet and retain the information that is useful to me.
I find that many people do something similar nowadays. The thing is that there is a lot of good information and is free for us to obtain.
2 people like this
@ratyz5 (7808)
• Philippines
14 Feb 23
I notice that I prefer when I look for information and it's in video form, it would be nice if the uploader provided timelines so that I can just select the particular time where the info I need can be viewed. That's what makes those short form videos good with just giving the main point and takes that shorter time to explain what often can be elaborated with additional time.
When watching film, I tend to look at the time, when at home, I check what's happening around (having pets that sometimes do rough play could be distracting.. or even their silence can be alarming as well), or sometimes check my phone to see if I have messages to read.
The convenience of these information being available is also an avenue for misleading information to be accessible as well. Some postings online, mostly in facebook as I could recall during election, have numerous of those that parties and supporters just continue to share derogatory posts against one another that arguments just come up. This is without even trying to confirm if the posts that they are basing on are legitimate or just misinforming.
@quantum2020 (12040)
• Ciudad De Mexico, Mexico
14 Feb 23
@ratyz5 One´s task is to retain the best of this free information and go on. I just search for the topic I´m interested in and the most out of it. With so much reading, I deduce what´s good or not.
1 person likes this
@RebeccasFarm (86828)
• United States
14 Feb 23
Yes it is a shame in a way.
I love books and used to love reading.
No time now at all. Or ability to concentrate, but it is not due to the technology it is due to extreme stress and deprivation of peace.
1 person likes this
@ratyz5 (7808)
• Philippines
14 Feb 23
I like reading too. Mostly on genres that I get caught interested in. I also like to read manga as well, but even these are sometimes available online so am I still considered stuck on the screen even if I am actually reading something?
Peace is rather elusive when it has to be caught out there with all the other distractions bombarding us from all directions. But spiritual peace is beyond what the world offers which we can all attain. And this too requires us to have time for.
@RebeccasFarm (86828)
• United States
17 Feb 23
@ratyz5 Oh yes we must have faith and youre right..we must work to have spirituality.
