In the days without short videos, time seemed to pass more slowly.
I still remember weekends from my childhood, when I loved to snuggle on the sofa, watching a two-hour movie or waiting for the weekly update of a TV series. The anticipation of plot development and the imagination of unknown worlds would excite me immensely. Occasionally, I would pick up a book, savoring the profound emotions and rich details within, needing time to chew over and reflect. However, nowadays, the prevalence of short videos has made me realize that this immersive experience is gradually fading away, and it is becoming increasingly difficult to return to that feeling.
The convenience of short videos is quite evident. They can quickly convey information in fragmented time and bring a bit of ease to busy lives. But they are also quietly changing my habits, especially as my personal experiences have made me aware of this. Many times, I find myself unconsciously scrolling through video after video, and I wonder how others feel; it seems like being trapped in it, hard to escape. Each video feels like a tiny stimulant, briefly and intensely stimulating my senses, but afterward, I often feel empty and confused...
I might think that the design of short videos is almost the perfect temptation, capturing people's desire for novelty and instant feedback. To some extent, I even feel that my attention has been "hijacked" by them. For a while, I found it increasingly difficult to settle down and read a book or even watch a movie in its entirety (unless the movie was very interesting). In short, those things that require patience and focus began to seem too slow and boring. It seems our attention is being sliced into countless fragments, each used to fill some fleeting void, rather than being used to build deeper understanding and connections.
At the same time, I also think about the changes for creators of long videos; whether the popularity of short videos has put some pressure on them. To cater to algorithms and audience attention, many creators have to condense content, compressing rich ideas into just a few seconds. This fast-paced creative environment has made many topics that could have been explored in depth become superficial, even falling into cycles of repetition and imitation. This rapid consumption model not only limits the depth of expression for creators but also affects the audience's taste and expectations for content.
I had a friend who wanted to edit a live video of MC; she embedded many details and interesting points in the long video. From my interactions with her over those days, it was clear she put a lot of effort into making that video. Unfortunately, the algorithm catered to the audience, and the audience was led astray by the algorithm, so no one noticed such a video. Perhaps due to the changes of the times, people couldn't grasp the joy this video could bring them.
Short videos have been changing the rhythm of our lives, making a fast pace seem like a necessity. They not only shape our perception of time but also change the way we behave. Nowadays, we are increasingly accustomed to "getting things anytime," yet rarely stop to think about "what we truly need." But does this fast-paced lifestyle really make us happier? Even with this fleeting happiness, are you truly satisfied with it?
Sometimes, I really miss the days without short videos. Time then felt longer, quieter, and life seemed more real and grounded. We could try to recall those times without short videos, when we focused more on the people and things around us rather than the screen in front of us. On weekend afternoons, we might spend time doing something, like going for a walk, learning something new, or deeply engaging in activities we loved, or perhaps having in-depth conversations with friends. Now, more conversations are replaced by emojis and a few seconds of video, and the connections between us seem to have become shallower.
Of course, I do not think that short videos themselves are the root of the problem. They are merely a medium and do not intend to harm anyone. But it is undeniable that they attract us with some invisible force, making us constantly waver between pleasure and anxiety. There is nothing wrong with short videos themselves, but the changes they bring raise many thought-provoking questions. For instance, when our attention becomes so fragmented, can we still truly feel the depth of life?
I write these words not to criticize short videos, but to provoke thought: can we still regain the ability to slow down, quiet down, and have a dialogue with ourselves? Short videos have indeed enriched our lives, but at the same time, have they also caused us to lose some precious things? Will this shaping of life’s rhythm ultimately make us forget that real life does not always need to pursue speed and immediacy?
When I think back to those past times, I feel perhaps we should try to pause, allowing life to return to its natural rhythm, rather than being pulled forward by the sliding actions on the screen. By slowing down, perhaps we can once again find inner peace and re-experience those moments that should be cherished.
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