Argus Poll: Short-Form Video and Teens’ Attention Spans

It’s no secret that short-form video has grown extremely popular over the last five years.

Featured on TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts, these videos include anything under three minutes, though many are only 15-30 seconds long. Critics of short-form video fear that all this hyperactive entertainment consumption is ruining teens’ attention spans to the point that they can barely focus long enough to read or even watch normal movies anymore. 

During February, we asked over 200 Midwood students, mostly juniors and freshmen, about their viewing habits when it comes to short-form videos as well as their views of their own attention spans. Here’s what we found:

How much time do students spend watching short-form videos (e.g., TikTok) each day?

• 14% watch less than one hour a day

• 14% watch one hour a day 

• 25% watch two hours a day

• 27% watch 3-4 hours a day

• 20% watch at least five hours a day

What did students say about their own attention spans and use of TikTok?

• 68% agreed that “I feel like I get bored or distracted easily.”

• 63% agreed that “I have a hard time staying focused when I study or do homework.”

• 48% agreed that “I have a hard time staying focused when I read.”

• 24% agreed that “I have a hard time sitting through an entire movie.”

• 66% agreed or strongly agreed that “I spend too much time on TikTok.”

If you're not sure of your own viewing time, you can check your app usage. On an iPhone, for example, click on "Settings," then "Screen Time," then "See All App & Website Activity."