(WSJ) – Instant gratification from short video clips makes it hard for people—particularly kids—to understand how the present affects the future, says study

These videos, in particular, activate the reward circuitry of the brain with their novel, engaging and effortless nature, leading to instant and constant gratification. We already saw in a previous study that this type of engagement activates the addiction centers of our brains, and in some cases makes it hard for us to stop viewing.

Now, it’s also making us less able to plan for the future, or even care about it.

The brain effects hold true for adults, but are more pronounced in teens, says Dr. Vera Feuer, chief clinical officer at the Child Mind Institute, a mental-health treatment provider. (Read More)