Instagram Reels: In today's digital world, the craze of platforms like TikTok, Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts has increased so much that many people spend a large part of the day just scrolling.

In today's digital world, the craze of platforms like TikTok, Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts has increased so much that many people spend a large part of the day just scrolling. These videos of a few seconds have not only become a time pass but are also gradually having a bad effect on the brain and thinking ability. A new study that has come out recently has revealed some shocking things which show that the addiction to short videos is preventing us from taking decisions thoughtfully and is even causing financial loss.

This research has been carried out by Professor Qiang Wang of Tianjin Normal University of China and his team, which has been published in the journal NeuroImage. According to this study, people who spend more time on short videos like TikTok or Reels have a negative impact on their decision-making ability. In particular, the tendency of 'loss aversion' i.e. avoiding loss becomes weak in their brain.

This is the natural trait that helps us avoid risk. For example, if a scheme promises to win Rs 1,000 but there is also a risk of losing Rs 500, then a person with loss aversion will stay away from this risk. But people who are addicted to short videos often do not shy away from taking such risks even if the possibility of loss is high.

The biggest attraction of these platforms is the 'instant reward system' i.e. watch one video, enjoy it a little, then watch the next video. This process keeps giving the user a constant dose of dopamine, which makes the brain lose the habit of getting pleasure slowly and thoughtfully. Its direct effect is that the person starts taking even the big and important decisions of life in a hurry without thinking much.

This problem is not limited to the brain but it affects the entire routine and lifestyle. Continuously watching videos distracts the attention and makes it difficult to focus. Even the sleep of many users is affected because nights pass by watching "just one more video". Not only this, mental problems like anxiety, depression and lack of confidence have also started to appear due to watching short videos for a long time.

The study also revealed that the average person in China spends 151 minutes a day on short videos and more than 95% of internet users are involved in them in some form or the other. Scientists have compared this addiction to gambling and drug addiction because all have similar tendencies: seeking immediate pleasure and ignoring long-term harm.

If you want to save yourself from this habit, then start monitoring your screen time. Take a break every 20–30 minutes and avoid uncontrolled scrolling. Try reading books, exercising or spending time in one of your hobbies. Also do a digital detox by staying away from the phone at least once a week.

Even though these short videos are just a few seconds long, they have a profound effect on our brain, sleep, focus and even financial decisions. Therefore, it is important that they are used wisely and it should be limited to entertainment and not a habit.

PC:ABPNews