Reels: The subtle art of planting ideas

Why are social media reels so captivating? Those quick, addictive videos that pull us into an endless scroll have something strangely powerful about them. It’s not just that they’re short and engaging; it’s that they seem to know exactly how to keep us hooked, almost like they’re wired directly into our brains.

The timeless appeal of short content

This idea of brevity reminds me of a scene from the movie Memento (released 24 years ago). Sammy Jankis, a character in the film, finds comfort in watching short advertisements. Even with his condition (anterograde amnesia), he could still enjoy these fleeting moments because they were brief enough to hold his attention without losing track.

That’s the essence of short content—it’s not new; it’s just evolved into something more powerful and more... calculated.

Reels have taken this timeless appeal and amplified it. It’s not just about their length anymore; it’s about how they learn from us and adapt to our behavior. Every time we watch, skip, or like a reel, the algorithm is quietly shaping our feed, fine-tuning it to keep us in that endless loop. It’s like they know us better than we know ourselves.

The Inception of ideas

Then there's Inception, the movie where they plant ideas in someone’s mind through dreams. In the film, the characters enter the subconscious of their target, embedding an idea so deeply that the person believes it to be their own. It’s all about subtly influencing thoughts without the target ever realizing they’ve been guided in a specific direction.

Reels, in their own way, can also inject ideas into our minds, sometimes without us even noticing. It’s not always a deliberate or sinister plan—more often than not, it’s a byproduct of how these platforms work. The more we watch, the deeper we get into layers of content that might start out simple but can grow more radical or niche as we go along.

It’s like these platforms are planting seeds—ideas that grow without us even realizing it. Sure, it’s not as dramatic as altering someone’s reality like in Inception, but it’s not entirely different either. Reels have this sneaky way of shaping our thoughts and interests, not by force but by gently nudging us in a particular direction. It’s a reflection of how our minds are wired to absorb information, especially when it’s delivered in small, digestible pieces.

The nature of engagement

This whole phenomenon makes me wonder about the nature of engagement itself. Are we really choosing what to watch, or are we just following where our minds naturally go—to the next quick hit of dopamine? It’s hard to tell if it’s manipulation or if these platforms are simply holding up a mirror to our behavior, showing us exactly what our brains crave.

I find myself both amazed and a little unnerved by how well these algorithms understand us. They tap into our love for things that are easy to consume, things that don’t ask too much of us. Even when I’m aware of how it works, I still get drawn in, one reel after another.

So, maybe reels aren’t just a passing trend. Maybe they’re a reminder of how the smallest pieces of content can hold our attention in the biggest ways. It’s like Sammy Jankis watching his short ads, except now, the ads know exactly who’s watching and why.