Addiction of watching reels changed the minds of children!Image Credit source: Getty Images
Does your child start scrolling reels continuously as soon as he picks up the mobile? If so, then it is not just entertainment but can also be a habit that has a deep impact on his mind. Recent research by scientists and medical institutions around the world shows that Instagram Reels, TikTok and other short video platforms are affecting children’s ability to think, understand and concentrate for long periods of time. According to research, repeated short videos keep the reward system of the brain continuously active, due to which children are not able to concentrate on studies, books or any one task for a long time. Organizations and publications like Microsoft, Zhejiang University, American Psychological Association, The Wall Street Journal and Forbes have also expressed serious concern on this topic. In such a situation, the question is what changes are reels bringing in the minds of children and what is the way to avoid it.
What is ‘Short Attention Span’?
Short attention span means not being able to concentrate on any one work, book, study or conversation for a long time. According to Microsoft’s famous research based on human behavior, in the year 2000, the average attention span of humans was about 12 seconds, which has reduced to about 8 seconds in the era of smartphones and short videos. Research also revealed that this time is less than the average attention span of goldfish of 9 seconds. Experts say that by continuously watching videos for 15 to 30 seconds, the brain becomes accustomed to the same fast pace. In such a situation, children start finding school classes, books or long conversations boring.
What happens in your mind when you watch reels?
Scientists from China’s Zhejiang University tried to understand the effect of short videos on children’s brain with the help of neuroimaging technology. During the research, it was found in MRI scan that while watching Reels and TikTok videos, the ventral tegmental area of the brain i.e. Rewardo Pathway gets activated rapidly. This part gives a feeling of happiness and reward. Due to receiving a new video every few seconds, dopamine is released rapidly, due to which the child starts scrolling the screen again and again. Scientists say that this process can gradually turn the habit into addiction and the ability to concentrate for a long time starts weakening.
What is ‘TikTok Brain’?
The Wall Street Journal has named this entire change “TikTok Brain”. You can also call it reels brain. According to the report, children’s prefrontal cortex, which helps in making decisions, maintaining patience and completing a task, develops by the age of about 25 years. If during this time the child becomes addicted to continuously watching short videos, then his focus and self-control may be affected. At the same time, Forbes report states that the algorithms of Instagram, TikTok and YouTube Shorts understand the user’s preferences quickly and show the same type of content continuously. Due to this, the level of dopamine increases again and again and the user remains connected to the platform for a longer period.
Why did the American Psychological Association issue a warning?
The American Psychological Association (APA) has issued advice regarding children and adolescents’ social media use. According to the association, many behavioral changes can be seen in children who watch short videos for two hours or more every day. These include getting angry over small things, lack of interest in studies, sleep problems, restlessness and desire to constantly look at the mobile. Experts say that when one does not get instant happiness like reels in real life, stress and anxiety can also increase in many children. Teachers in schools have also expressed concern about the decreasing concentration of children.
How to protect children from this digital addiction?
Pediatricians and tech experts have suggested three ways to protect children from this digital addiction. The first and most important step is to create ‘screen-free time’ and ‘no gadget zone’. The use of mobile phones at home should be completely prohibited for both parents and children while eating dinner and one hour before sleeping. The second solution is to take children away from the digital dopamine of reels and towards the physical dopamine of real life, for which they should be motivated to do field games, music, painting or reading books. The third and most important way is that parents themselves become a role model in front of children, because many times children learn this habit by seeing their parents scrolling the screen all day long.
What is digital dopamine and why does it become a habit?
According to research, when a person continuously watches new and interesting short videos, a neurotransmitter called dopamine is released in the brain with each video. It is also called “feel good chemical” in common language. The problem starts when the brain becomes addicted to this instant gratification over and over again. After this, activities like studies, books, homework or general conversation do not seem as interesting to children because they do not provide the experience of immediate reward. This is the reason why children repeatedly pick up their mobile phones and start watching new videos. Experts call this the digital dopamine loop, which can strengthen the habit over time.
What should be done?
Scientists say that technology itself is not the problem, but its excessive and uncontrolled use can be a cause for concern. Therefore, it is important to limit screen time for children, choose age-appropriate content and encourage offline activities with the family. The American Psychological Association also says that social media should be used keeping in mind the age, mental condition and family environment of children. As much as it is important to connect with the digital world, real world experiences are equally important. If balance is not created in time, concentration, learning ability and mental health can be affected for a long time.
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