Short videos, a format popularized by platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, are impairing adolescents' ability to project themselves into the future and to cope with setbacks, according to a study by researchers from the South China Normal University in Guangzhou. The study involved 1,567 high school students, on average 15 years old, and followed them over a period of one year. Researchers measured their level of addiction to short videos, their view of the future, and their way of reacting to daily school problems, with a particular focus on the future time perspective, which refers to an individual's ability and tendency to mentally project themselves into the future to anticipate, plan, and guide their current actions according to their long-term goals. The study found that the more an adolescent is addicted to short videos, the more their ability to overcome daily obstacles, such as a bad grade or a failed exercise, decreases over the months. According to the study, addiction directly weakens the future time perspective, which then weakens the young person's ability to bounce back. Students who have difficulty managing their failures are more likely to turn to videos to escape, which fuels their addiction. This trend is even more pronounced during adolescence since the prefrontal cortex, which manages planning and impulse control, is not fully mature until around 25 years old. The researchers suggest that fostering a strong future vision among adolescents is vital. This can be achieved, for example, by helping them set ambitious goals they want to achieve. The study also highlights the importance of parental involvement in managing screen time. Parents are encouraged to set usage limits, allow short videos only at specific times, activate focus mode during homework, and ensure that phones are not kept in the bedroom at night. The findings underscore the growing concern about the impact of digital media on adolescent development. As short videos continue to dominate online platforms, the study calls for greater awareness and proactive measures to support young people in developing resilience and long-term thinking skills.