Your Voice: Video addiction leads to lower attention span, affects teen development; Celebrating chess champ Magnus Carlson (long letters)

While queuing at the bus stop, waiting for food, or even crossing the street, you can always find people with their eyes glued to their phones. Nowadays, teenagers see nothing wrong with filling their spare time with watching videos online, from YouTube Shorts to Instagram Reels. It is high time we delve into this concerning issue and dissect its impact on teenagers’ lifestyles and personal development.

First and foremost, the insatiable addiction to short videos deals a devastating blow to teenagers’ normal lives. There is no denying how common it has become to mindlessly scroll through your social media feed, thanks to recommendations from the algorithm and the “swipe-down-to-continue” design of short-video sharing platforms.

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Apps like TikTok, YouTube and Instagram already occupy most of a teenager’s time. Watching short videos gives people a dopamine surge, which only drives them deeper into the swamp. Even if they manage to pull themselves out of a deep-rooted internet addiction, they can still suffer from withdrawal symptoms, which will most likely lead them back to old habits.

Continuous exposure to short videos will result in short-term memory problems and a limited attention span. Teens are stuck in a vicious cycle in which they experience either instant gratification or mental drain. They are spending more time binge-watching videos while devoting less and less time to studying, doing sports or any other conducive activity.

Educators have never been more concerned about teenagers’ all-round development, ranging from their critical thinking skills to independent decision-making.

Many teens blindly follow online trends and challenges in a desperate bid to acquire popularity among their peers. Viral trends like jumping off a running car, climbing a cliff without protective gear, and tying a belt tightly around their neck have caused injuries and deaths, which society cannot afford to ignore.

Video sharing platforms have already become a hotbed for sociopaths and even criminals. Even many older people, with education and life experience, do not have the skills to differentiate inappropriate content, let alone Zoomers who grow up watching short videos. As a result, the next generation will lack discipline and critical thinking, which may lead to the downfall of human history.

Not only do short videos generate an undue emphasis on entertainment and encourage mindless social media consumption, but they also construct toxic views of the world and lower moral standards. Educators must tackle this problem immediately before it causes irreversible damage to the future pillars of our society.

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Chenming Song, German Swiss International School

With his win at the World Chess Cup on August 24, Magnus Carlsen has completed his chess journey, winning every major individual chess championship worldwide, a feat that no one has ever accomplished.

Widely considered the GOAT of the game, Carlsen might be the most renowned chess player in history. He stepped into the global spotlight as a child prodigy at age 13 when he drew a game against Garry Kasparov, the legendary world champion at the time, sending shock waves through the international chess community. Since then, he has been the five-time reigning world chess champion and has become a “super” grandmaster, an informal title given to players above 2700 ELO, the system used to measure a player’s skill. Only 35 people in the world hold this title.

Carlsen’s impact on the chess world extends beyond his groundbreaking ELO rating. He has brought excitement and interest back into the game that has been missing for years. His games are watched live by millions around the globe, and his aggressive playing style has always thrilled audiences and won him countless admirers. His unique ability to “squeeze water from a stone” and turn wholly drawn endgame positions into wins is incredible, which is supported by his understanding of game dynamics. Carlsen has also brought new concepts to chess, reviewing computer games and better understanding piece sacrifices that will lead to long-term advantages.

Carlsen had already started playing chess by age five. He would spend hours playing by himself, searching for combinations and replaying games he played with his father. He entered his first tournament at eight years old and later gained 1000 ELO in a year while studying at the Norwegian College of Elite Sport at 10, reaching a new high ELO of 1907. Four years later, he received the Grandmaster title with 2702 ELO. This sudden rise to fame resulted from his sheer determination, hours of effort, unceasing resilience and love for the game, and he is viewed as a symbol of success by all.

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However, in recent years, Carlsen has become tired of classical chess – the most prestigious type of chess, which takes hours to complete. It is the kind that is played in the World Chess Championship. That’s why, in 2023, Carlsen surrendered his title of World Chess Champion after a decade on the throne. The world was stunned, and the news made headlines, with many calling it the end of an era.

Four months later, the Chess World Cup, a classical format tournament, ended with Carlsen winning it for the first, and possibly last, time, as it could be his final World Cup appearance and his last time playing in a classical chess championship.

Carlsen’s influence extends far beyond classical chess. He is still active in blitz and rapid chess segments, which involve time formats much faster than classical ones. In late September, he stunned the world again with a breathtaking win at the Speed Chess Championship, sacrificing two rooks for a checkmate.

Carlsen’s legacy will live on long after he has stepped away from the chessboard. His influence has not only changed the game of chess but also how we perceive the game, and his story is a testament to the power of determination and hard work.