Speed and happiness - a match made in heaven?

Parents and teachers have been wondering about the effects of short videos with accelerated editing and a soundtrack that sticks in their ears. The expansion of TIK TOK users is frightening - in 2021, the social network surpassed the mark of one billion subscribers! Despite not allowing the entry of children under 13, they often bypass the terms with fake accounts and celebrate access to the social phenomenon of the time. In Brazil, TIK TOK is second only to WhatsApp. Young people spend a lot of their time on the app - for many, 12 hours a day is not enough. Some children spend the night plugged into their smartphones. Studies point to the possible reasons behind this scenario: the good old pleasure, achieved quickly and easily, leaving everyone wanting more. Could this be a problem? Research at universities around the world revealed that watching the material provided by TIK TOK activates the areas of the brain responsible for sensations of pleasure directly linked to the reward system. In short? Watching the videos produces an immediate and quick feeling of well-being in the user's body. As scientists say: "the brain receives a flood of dopamine, which leads to a feeling of happiness," say professionals from the Brazilian Association of Neurology. Momentary pleasure combined with minimal effort? Yes, especially when compared to other tasks in the school world that require more attention, such as reading. That can also generate pleasure. However, it demands more time from the reader: the reward sometimes only comes on the last page… If learning to delay gratification, that is, being able to persist in a task that only in the end will give pleasure, is part of human maturation, what would our youth be learning when interacting on TIK TOK? The survey participants' answers provide clues for us to reflect on: "I watch to pass the time and feel happier" or "to escape from something." Others claim to be there "to find out what's new." Is that you? Do you believe speed and happiness is a match made in heaven? Or do you prefer to teach young people to invest in the habit of persisting? Take your time, no hurry! Vanessa Meirelles Psychopedagogue Researcher of Human Identity Master in Social Psychology from PUC São Paulo

Member of the Brazilian Association of Psychopedagogy - ABPp 722