Once upon a time, we would tilt our phones sideways to watch a video. YouTube was the gold standard, long, cinematic and immersive. Tutorials ran for ten minutes, vlogs for twenty and no one complained. Fast-forward to 2025, and the screen has literally turned. Now, everything is vertical, from Meta’s Reels to YouTube Shorts to TikTok’s endless scroll.
Today’s viewers, especially the younger generation, are more likely to spend hours swiping through 30-second clips than sitting through a six-minute video. The question is: how did our viewing habits change so drastically, and what does it say about us?
The revolution did not happen overnight. It started quietly with Snapchat stories, then exploded with TikTok’s arrival. TikTok’s 15-second videos reshaped the idea of entertainment. They were bite-sized, catchy and made for mobile. Soon after, the giants followed. Instagram introduced Reels, Facebook optimised its feed for vertical clips, and YouTube launched Shorts.
According to Umais Naveed, Content Operations Lead, South Asia, TikTok, the platform’s confidence in short, vertical videos came from observing how people use mobile devices.
“From the very beginning, TikTok recognised that mobile devices were changing the way people create and consume content. This format empowers everyone to create and share their stories instantly, without any technical barriers,” Naveed said. “Our confidence stemmed from understanding the user behaviour, authenticity, creativity and accessibility would redefine how people connect and consume content on a global scale.”
Bangladesh now has over 77.7 million internet users and nearly 60 million active social media identities, according to DataReportal’s 2025 Digital Overview, a global research platform that publishes statistics on digital, social media, and mobile usage. Facebook remains the most popular platform, with over 52 million Bangladeshi users, while YouTube is accessible to nearly everyone with a smartphone. With such a large, mobile-first audience, it is no surprise that short, vertical videos dominate daily screen time.
What really drives this shift is not just design, it is psychology. Algorithms reward instant engagement, releasing dopamine with each swipe. The shorter the content, the faster the hit.
Educator and content creator Ayman Sadiq, Founder and CEO of 10 Minute School, believes this behavioural change is shaping how we consume content. “Attention span, that is a concern. From many years of research, it has been shown that each time research is done, the attention span drops a little. Previously, it was about fifteen seconds; for our generation, it has come down to seven seconds,” he said.
“What worries me is that those who have been dependent on this medium from a very young age are having some issues. We hear a lot more about ADHD and attention disorders now. But the weight of content does not depend on screen size. Very deep content can be delivered in forty seconds in vertical format, and equally deep content can be given in five minutes in horizontal format,” added Ayman.
For content creators, the transition has been both a challenge and an opportunity. For many YouTubers, storytelling feels like a lost art as algorithms favour videos under a minute.
This transformation has changed how we engage with information itself. News outlets in Bangladesh are increasingly producing bite-sized video explainers to keep up with audience demand. Educational pages and lifestyle creators have shifted to quick, scrollable clips for better reach. A decade ago, content creators dreamed of becoming YouTubers. Now, everyone wants to be a Reel star.
Naveed observes that Bangladesh brings a unique energy to the short-video landscape. “Content often reflects strong cultural values and community-driven narratives. Local creators are leading unique movements that celebrate regional identity,” he added.
In Bangladesh, where affordable smartphones and cheaper data packages have driven mass connectivity, short-form content is inclusive. Anyone can create, upload, and go viral. It has flattened hierarchies of fame, giving young creators from small towns a platform once reserved for celebrities or large studios.
So, where do we go from here? Some predict that long-form storytelling will make a comeback as viewers tire of the endless scroll. Others believe short-form is here to stay, evolving into more interactive, AI-driven experiences. For now, though, the vertical world reigns supreme. Every swipe, every scroll, every microsecond of attention counts.
