In a world dominated by fast-paced media, students are increasingly drawn to short-form content. Mediums such as TikTok or Instagram Reels offer quick, digestible clips that provide instant gratification. While these videos may give a short-term dopamine rush, the benefits of long-form content — such as movies, books and podcasts — outweigh the positives of short-form content. Engaging with longer formats supports cognitive development and attention span while also engaging students with introspective storytelling and media literacy skills.
One of the primary advantages of long-form content is its ability to foster deeper thought. When students immerse themselves in a movie or a podcast, they are encouraged to think critically and reflect on complex ideas. This engagement helps the retention of information, a crucial skill for academic success. In contrast, short-form content is often told in oversimplified narratives which could hinder the full understanding of subtext. This quick delivery can lead to superficial processing, where viewers absorb information without realizing its significance.
“I strongly suggest people read good long-form narrative stories like Texas Monthly or the New York Times, or wherever it is that you like to get stories,” said Robert Quigley, a journalism professor of practice. “I definitely recommend you read books. I think there’s multiple ways where we should be slowing down our lives, not consuming things for 30 seconds at a time.”
The ability to concentrate is decreasing among the younger generation. Reading a novel or watching a film requires sustained attention and an investment of time. By practicing these actions, better study habits can be formed. On the other hand, constant exposure to rapid, short clips can train the brain to want immediate rewards. This can make it challenging for students to engage in longer content, such as reading textbooks or writing essays.
“You’re going to get way more entertainment out of a movie because … there’s so much going on both in the movie’s (plot) and with the background of how they filmed it, like what shots (they) are doing,” said Hannah Ackermann, a radio-television-film freshman. “In short-form content, you’re not getting much out of it.”
Long-form narratives also often delve into diverse perspectives and cultures, encouraging empathy for things we may not understand. Whether through a documentary or a book, these mediums allow students to understand complex social issues and learn about personal stories. This exposure can be transformative, helping students become more compassionate individuals who are better equipped to interact in an increasingly diverse world.
In contrast, short-form content may reinforce existing biases by creating echo chambers. While there are many benefits of short-form, like mainstream accessibility, it should be a starting point for finding content. Clips and headlines can help pique an audience’s interest, but truly immersing oneself in information requires more time.
“I ask my students to listen and analyze long-form (podcasts),” Quigley said. “Not that there’s not good short-form ones. It’s just that, I think that it pulls together all the important (things) in journalism, everything from deep reporting to understanding data to going through papers to understand documents, long-form storytelling (and) script writing.”
While short-form content may offer quick entertainment, it sacrifices cognitive depth, creativity and empathy. By choosing to invest time in movies, books and podcasts, students not only enhance their attention spans but also gain an understanding of themselves and the world around them.
Xu is a government freshman from Fort Worth, Texas.
