Latest news with #Reels
India Today
20 hours ago
- Entertainment
- India Today
So, you can't even watch Reels without 2X speed? Experts have something to say
You know something's off when you're watching a soulful rendition of a favourite song at 2X speed. In an anyway 30-second snippet, you hit the 2X button to focus on that one line you love the best."I subconsciously developed the habit of watching Reels at 2X speed and didn't think much of it, until one day, I caught myself doing the same with a video of one of my favourite songs," says Manya, a 29-year-old working professional from Delhi."My brother, who's also a music lover, was sitting next to me and pointed it out. That's when it really hit me. My attention span was probably further deteriorating," she Reels, which is already a short-form video format, at double speed has become the new normal for Instagram users. In March this year, the platform introduced a feature that lets users fast-forward a Reel by simply long-tapping on either edge of the screen. Do you also find it difficult to complete tasks without being distracted by your phone? (Photo: Unsplash) 'Today, we're globally launching the ability to play an Instagram Reel at 2X speed. This has been a highly requested feature from our community, and we hope being able to fast forward helps give you more control over your Reels experience as you connect with friends over content you love and enjoy,' Instagram move came after Meta extended the time limit for Reels to 3 sped-up content - A generic trendOther video platforms like YouTube and TikTok have already introduced this feature. Even on streaming platforms such as Netflix and Prime Video, viewers can fast-forward movies and shows.'I am an avid movie watcher, but it pains me when I'm in a theatre and find it impossible to skip a boring scene. Whenever I watch a movie at home on a streaming app, I skip unwanted songs and even scenes that I feel aren't substantial,' says 31-year-old Tanisha, admitting that she isn't very proud of this new content consumption habit she has it's not new for people to use this feature with long-form videos, applying it to already short video formats raises may seem like just another feature, getting used to it can significantly affect your attention span, cognitive abilities, and even relationships. This could possibly be the reason why you find it hard to read a book or watch a movie without a phone in your on our behaviour, attention span'Our tolerance for both slow and deep content has diminished because of this development. Our brains develop an intolerance toward slow-paced content, including deep conversations and long books as well as peaceful moments, because we constantly experience fast-paced content,' says Sheena Sood, psychologist and counsellor, P. D. Hinduja Hospital and Medical Research Centre in Mumbai.'The fact that people now prefer watching even these fast-paced videos at double speed suggests they are becoming increasingly impatient. Even a second feels longer, and they want to get to the point faster. This implies that our baseline for patience and tolerance of content length is continually shrinking,' adds Dr Vishnu Gade, consultant, psychiatry, Arete if you watch short videos at 2X speed, you may find it harder to learn new things or pay attention to the details when a loved one is speaking to you - that's what health experts overload and time pressure are among the key reasons why the 2X speed on Reels (and also in general) has people hooked on experts agree that occasional use of 2X speed, especially for previously seen content, does not cause harm. But it is likely to be a problem when everything, including music, feels slow to is clear that this new normal of consuming short-form content is certainly not without a list of cons. And it is not just limited to altering your attention watching Reels or short clips at double speed increases the risk of superficial engagement. In simple words, you may not be connecting deeply with the content, which eventually results in lesser information comprehension is another by-product of faster playback.'Faster playback will impair understanding of complex ideas like maths, chemistry, and problem-solving things. Because the speed is increased, the person's capacity to understand and grasp the whole concept may sometimes be reduced,' explains Dr decreased creativity, impatience in real life, weak empathy, impaired emotional engagement, fast talking, and emotional instability can also develop as a subsequent short-form content at double speed further fuels our addiction for instant gratification and rewires how we process information.'Platforms like TikTok and Instagram Reels already cater to short bursts of content, and the 2X speed feature amplifies the demand for instant gratification. This constant dopamine stimulation can impair our brain's ability to focus deeply, making it harder to engage with long-term content or real-life conversations. It's not just about shorter attention spans – it's about rewiring how we process our information altogether,' says Dr Vikram Sharma, senior consultant neurologist, CARE Hospitals, a nutshell, experts say that there is a long-term cognitive and emotional impact which influences how people think, feel, learn, and relate to media and interpersonal news: Attention span is trainableBeing able to maintain attention on one task at a time and completing them suggests you have a good attention span. You need it to learn new things, to build relationships as it lets you be fully present and helps with deep also need a good attention span for mental peace. Mental health experts say a scattered mind generates feelings of anxiety and dissatisfaction that people can't even are ways with which you can mitigate the impact of watching sped-up content and re-train your attention span. It starts with small yet consistent steps. Like, challenging yourself to have tea without checking your phone. Or, taking short screen breaks several times a multitasking, essentially. And reduce digital distractions. You can use features like DND, silent mode to stay away from your phone while working, reading a book, or performing any other deep work or focus time management. A simple (not really) way to that: 'Sit without interruptions (while working) for 25-minute sessions, take a 5-minute break, then restart. Gradually, increase duration to train the brain to stay focused longer,' suggests Dr Gade.'The brain needs fifteen minutes without interruptions to reorient itself properly. The activities such as reading, handwriting, drawing and cooking serve as helpful tools to rebuild attention skills,' adds stepping out into a park, observing nature, and taking a break for 15–30 minutes without any digital distractions to relearn your focus well, exercising regularly, eating brain-friendly foods (like omega-3 fatty acids, green leafy vegetables, nuts and water), and avoiding processed food and meditating will also and indulging in activities like reading books, puzzles, painting, playing a musical instrument, or learning a new language is a must. They enhance cognitive Reel advertisement
New Straits Times
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- New Straits Times
Books still alive and well amid digital age, say writers at KL Book Fair 2025
KUALA LUMPUR: Despite the rise of TikTok, Reels and fast-paced digital content, books are far from dead, as proven by the strong turnout at the Kuala Lumpur International Book Fair (PBAKL) 2025. The event drew thousands of visitors, signalling that the appetite for knowledge, reflection and meaningful storytelling remains strong, especially among the younger generation. Iddin Ramli, 28, a young writer gaining popularity among youth, brought a fresh perspective this year. No longer writing solely for self-healing, Iddin has shifted his focus to Islamic-themed works, drawing inspiration from the Quran and the life of Prophet Muhammad. "This year, my work centres on Islamic concepts. We examine verses from the Quran and relate them to the stories of the Prophet. I want people to see Islam as a path to happiness. "Today's greatest challenge is engaging young people who are more drawn to screens than to flipping the pages of a book. Publishing is easy, but getting people to read is the real challenge. We have to work harder," he said. For 27-year-old Aisyah Hijanah Azhari, writing is not about influence but a sacred trust. "What remains after us is not the number of views but the knowledge that continues to benefit others even after we are gone. I write so that my work becomes a continuous charity that keeps giving. "Today's writing scene is marred by influencer books that look appealing on the surface but are empty inside. Not all books are beneficial. We need honest writers who share from real experience," she said. Her husband, Mohd Hazalif Mohd Hazani, also known as Alif Teega, 31, said he writes not to follow trends but to touch hearts. "Many people write books now, but do they truly help others? I don't write because it's 'trendy'. I write because I've been through it and want to share so that others know they are not alone." Alif believes that platforms like TikTok and BookTok have helped boost sales and sparked interest in reading among those distant from books. "Now, you can sell many books in a day with a video. Even those who didn't read before are starting to take an interest. That's the magic of it," he added. Meanwhile, actor, comedian, and artist Datuk A Rahim Muda, better known as Datuk Imuda, 66, also participated in PBAKL 2025 with his own books. "Even though the world is changing, I believe books will always have their place as long as they remain fresh and of high quality," he said. "I remember when books were overlooked, but just look at this book fair — even finding a parking spot is difficult. People still want to read and thirst for knowledge." Imuda said today's writers must produce works relevant to new generations instead of recycling old stories.
The Verge
20-05-2025
- Business
- The Verge
May 20, 2025 at 9:46 AM EDT
Instagram ponies up (again). The company is paying a group of creators to refer people to Instagram, Business Insider reports. Influencers can earn $100 for every new user or 1,000 visits to the Instagram app, with a $20,000 limit. Instagram regularly tests monetization bonuses in an effort to juice engagement: they've paid people to post Reels and ditch TikTok, for example. But the Reels bonuses were touch and go for creators, with Instagram killing the program in 2023.
Time Business News
13-05-2025
- Business
- Time Business News
SMMProvider The Smart Marketer's Secret Weapon for Explosive Social Growth
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Indian Express
10-05-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
Meta is bringing video ads to Instagram Threads: Here's what they look like
Instagram Threads, Meta's rival to X (formerly Twitter) will soon start testing video ads. The company made the announcement at IAB NewFronts, an industry event where social media companies and advertisers pitch themselves. In a blog post, the company said that a 'small number' of advertisers will be able to test 16:9 or 1:1 creative video ads in between pieces of organic content. 'We're testing video ads on Threads so businesses can expand their reach and engage with their audience in a familiar way across multiple platforms.' However, there is still no news about the pricing or frequency of these ads. Video ads on Threads isn't a new concept, as other Meta owned social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest have been showing them for quite some time now. The Mark Zuckerberg owned company also announced it will now notify Threads users when their accounts are penalised and that it is bringing its 'Account Status' feature to the platform. This means Threads users will now be able to view the 'actions' taken by Meta against their account and indicate if a post has been removed, made less visible or hide content not recommended by Meta. The feature can also help users if they have been blocked from using certain features on the platform and make an appeal. Meta also said that it would soon start testing Reels trending ads, a new content targeting product that delivers ads for the most popular and engaging creator-created Reels on Instagram. The company is also rolling out Video Expansion for Facebook Reels, an AI powered feature that automatically generates unseen pixels in each video frame to expand their aspect ratio. Last month, at its earnings call, Meta announced that Threads now has more than 350 million monthly active users and that the amount of time spent on the platform has increased by 35 per cent.
