Sheraz Kousser
sherazkchouhan@gmail.com
In the digital era short form content-videos- known as reels, are becoming a usual part of our everyday life. What began as entertaining 15- to 60-second dancing, comedy, traveling or life hacking videos has been a regular companion that quietly occupies areas that were once reserved for genuine human connection and introspection. Those 15-60 second bites offer a momentary sense of pleasure and escape. Although these little (15-60 second) videos provide excitement and quick laughter, we rarely ever realise how much time we spend watching them. A few minutes here, a minute there, and hours are gone in an instant. We’re merely scrolling, even though it feels like we’re achieving something valuable. Scrolling becomes a habit that requires only repetition and requires no effort, learning, or discomfort. Our feeds are continuously updated with identical content, guided by algorithms, making it more difficult to stop. Although it doesn’t feel forced, the system subtly encourages us to continue observing, keeping us in a vicious circle that we didn’t pick yet are unable to escape. Thus, forming a habit that is easy to form and hard to break. Most reels are created to attract attention rather than to aid in our growth. Their usefulness is minimal, yet they provide our brains with instant gratification. This eventually alters our behaviour. We stop enjoying quiet moments or deep conversations. Instead, we look for fast fun and instant likes.
What We’re Losing
One of the biggest changes is in our relationships. At the dinner table, we now watch reels or discuss what went viral instead of interacting or laughing together. We now sit together, yet feel miles apart-physically close, but emotionally disconnected. Every meal now has a phone as the third guest. Both our attention to one another and our sense of presence are affected. Our perceptions of love and friendship are likewise changing. It can be upsetting if a friend doesn’t comment or a cousin doesn’t like your reel or a partner who doesn’t reshare your story- these minor digital signals are now wrongly seen as measures of affection or loyalty. This validation dependency has slipped into even the most personal corners of our lives. Nowadays, a tap or a simple emoji, status updates, posts, comments, reshare is regarded as evidence of love and care. On the contrary, genuine relationships are based on shared moments, empathy and trust. Even important occasions, like birthdays, holidays, or ordinary happiness, are being captured more for viewing purposes than for preserving memories of the heart. The blurred boundary between the personal and the public is leading to burnout and emotional disconnection. We edit our feelings, stage them for reels, and submit them for approval. Approval from others on the basis of views likes, shares and comments. We are more concerned with being seen than with being present.
The Impact on the Mind
Experts claim that reels are altering our cognitive processes. They train our minds to look for instant gratification. This rewires how we process boredom, focus, and reward. This makes it harder to focus, solve problems, or enjoy slow activities like reading. It may be more difficult for young individuals in particular to be patient or creative.
From Reels to Business
A fascinating article titled “From Reels to Retail: India’s Influencers Turning as Next Startup Founders” in The Economic Times demonstrates the growing number of content creators who are using their popularity to launch their own businesses. It also serves as a reminder of how much of our economy is now reliant on online attention and identification, even as it demonstrates the strength of digital reach.
The Big Question
This isn’t an argument against technology or creativity. Reels can inspire, inform, and entertain. But when they replace reality instead of complementing it, we risk forgetting how to live beyond the screen. Rejecting reels is not the point here. They can serve a number of purposes. But we have to ask: Do they improve or distract our lives? Real happiness doesn’t come from views, filters, or what others are doing on screen. Many people create content with a purpose -for some, it’s a business-to earn income; for others, it’s a way to gain visibility, FOMO, influence, showcase things that might otherwise go unnoticed or likewise something else. They carefully plan, edit, and filter what we see, using dozens of apps and tools. But as viewers, we must pause and ask ourselves – are we truly gaining anything, or just losing time, attention, and meaningful connection? The quick dopamine hit may feel good, but it’s often just a layer of superficial pleasure. It’s time to rethink why we watch, what we watch-are we learning, connecting, or simply escaping? Temporary pleasure can never replace lasting peace. True connection cannot be found in pixels. Real happiness comes from real connection – It lies in presence, in the messy, honest, unscripted moments of real life that no screen can capture.
(The author is Assistant Professor GGM Science College, Jammu)
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