In the days without short videos, time seemed to pass more slowly.
I still remember the weekends of my childhood, when I loved to curl up on the sofa, watching a two-hour movie or waiting for the weekly update of a TV series. The anticipation of plot developments and the imagination of unknown worlds would excite me. Occasionally, I would pick up a book and savor the profound emotions and rich details within, needing time to chew and reflect. However, nowadays, the popularity 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 very obvious. They can quickly convey information in fragmented time and bring a bit of ease to busy lives. However, 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 I am deeply trapped in it, unable to extricate myself. Each video feels like a micro-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 "kidnapped" by them. For a while, I found it increasingly difficult to settle down and read a book or even watch a complete movie (unless the movie was very interesting). In short, those things that require patience and focus began to seem too slow and uninteresting. It seems that our attention is being sliced into countless fragments, each used to fill certain fleeting gaps, rather than being used to build deeper understanding and connections.
At the same time, I also think about the transformation of creators of long videos in the past; whether the popularity of short videos has put some pressure on them. Many creators have to condense content to cater to algorithms and audience attention, compressing rich ideas into just a few seconds. This fast-paced creative environment has made many topics that could have been explored in depth superficial, even falling into a cycle 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 always 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 few days, it was clear that she was putting a lot of effort into making that video. Unfortunately, the algorithm catered to the audience, and the audience was led astray by the algorithm; no one noticed such a video. Perhaps due to the changes of the times, people couldn't appreciate the joy that this video brought them.
Short videos have been changing the rhythm of our lives, making fast-paced living 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 "accessing anytime," but we rarely stop to think about "what we really need." But does this fast-paced lifestyle really make us happier? Even if it brings a fleeting happiness, are you truly satisfied with it?
Sometimes, I really miss the days without short videos. Time felt longer, quieter, and life seemed more real and grounded. I can try to recall that in the era without short videos, we paid more attention to 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 focusing on doing what we love, or perhaps having deep conversations with friends. Now, more conversations are replaced by emojis and a few seconds of videos, and our connections with each other seem to have become shallower.
Of course, I don't think short videos themselves are the root of the problem. They are just a medium and have no intention of harming anyone. But it is undeniable that they attract us with some invisible force, making us wander 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 conversations with ourselves? Short videos have indeed enriched our lives, but at the same time, have they also made us lose something precious? Will this shaping of the rhythm of life 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 that perhaps I should try to pause and let life 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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