Turns out short form videos are damaging our eyes, too

You may unintentionally believe that short bite-sized content is better for you. But new research reveals that even short form videos can lead to long-term damage.

Americans spend, on average, 60 minutes daily watching short-form videos. From reels on Instagram, to video content on TikTok, and shorts on YouTube, the short videos are everywhere. While most understand excessive screen time poses health risks, specifically to eye health, we may not collectively fathom just how bad these activities are.

Research conducted by Overnight Glasses, and telegraphed by the brand’s founder, Gidon Sadovsky, reveals just how bad this short-form visual content can be.

“The human eye is not designed for non-stop high-speed visual consumption,” he explains. “The way these platforms bombard us with fast-changing imagery and bright artificial light can have serious implications—not just for vision but also for overall well-being.”

How do short form videos damage our eyes?

neon laptop screen visible in dark for short form videos piece by daniel korpai from unsplash

Here are some findings from the report:

65% of people who use screens for more than six hours daily experience increased photophobia and difficulty adjusting to natural light.
Global myopia rates have surged by 50% over the past few decades mostly due to excessive screen time.
Short-form content trains the brain to expect rapid stimulation which makes it harder to focus on static objects such as books, documents, or even real-world conversations.
50% of short-video watchers suffer from insomnia, daytime fatigue and increased eye strain.

It turns out that the way most short form videos are designed actually increases the damage they cause on our eyes and bodies. High-contrast visuals force your eyes into overdrive. Bright artificial light, like blue light, disrupts our bodies and is bad for our vision and overall well-being. Finally, because short form videos encourage people to spend more time looking at their screens, via bite-sized consumption, it can cause excessive damage — it forces your eyes into a prolonged near-focus state.

How do you protect your eyes and body?

woman spending time outdoors away from screens by mick haupt from unsplash

The remedy for excessive screen time is fairly simple. Spend less time looking at your devices and consuming short form videos. But because that’s not always possible, here are some additional tips as proposed by Sadovsky:

Structure your screen time into “intentional viewing blocks,” instead of scrolling endlessly.
Be deliberate and set “designated periods for digital consumption,” throughout your day. Give your eyes the breaks they need.
You may also “adjust[…] your environment” rather than the device by spending time in a well-lit room, which “reduces the contrast strain between the screen and your surroundings” thereby helping to minimize the fatigue your eyes experience.

By reducing overall exposure you’re effectively giving your eyes the rest they need. But it’s easy to forget about our brains, too. Your mind also needs a break from the constant overload of information, whether it’s visually represented or not. Maybe next time you’re bored and want to pick up one of your devices, you’ll make a conscious decision to engage with something else. As much as we love tech, there’s no ignoring the implications of its excessive use. Maybe go outside and touch some grass?

This story was originally created and shared by Overnight Glasses.