Before the session break settled, the scrolling had already begun. One reel, another, then a flood of trending videos, memes and a burst of “brainrot” took over glowing screens. The pause, meant to refresh tired minds, became a break not from routine but from reality.
For many students, the recent session break offered a moment to reset, and short videos or reels often became the quickest way to do so. Many carved out their own niches within the endless algorithm. For Amrolly Datta (Class X) of Bhavan’s Gangabux Kanoria Vidyamandir (BGKV), reels were a way to discover book recommendations and for Class IX student Aarushi Chakraborty of South City International School, they were a way to research geopolitics, history and global literature. Shared reels and reposted memes also created a common language among kids.
Yet, students acknowledge how easily a short break stretches longer than intended. A few minutes of scrolling often turns into a loop of fast, repetitive content, making it harder to regain focus.
Mrittika Majumder (Class IX) of South Point High School reflected that many of her classmates describe themselves as “chronically online,” adding that she sometimes feels out of touch as their interactions revolve around creating reels on popular music. “I see my friends’ mental health being affected, and I try to stick to long-form content such as movies or series as recreation,” she said.
Aarushi also pointed to the pressure to keep up: “I get bored of viral transitions or dances, as I find no purpose behind such fleeting trends. This desire for engagement can impact self-esteem, especially when comparisons begin to shape their minds.”
Educators echo both concern and understanding. “We are now dealing with a generation of digital natives, and we cannot take away technology,” said Simran Sanghera, principal of Asian International School, emphasising the need for digital literacy. Chitrita Sengupta Chaki, psychologist and school counsellor at Seth Soorajmull Jalan Balika Vidyalaya, highlighted that “session breaks are unique because they are unstructured, yet it is important that parents introduce routine.” She added that reels offer instant gratification, which may hamper impulse control.
Adrija Basu, assistant teacher at BGKV, stressed collaborative monitoring: “Leisure should not always have to be productive, but there should be structure and balance. Teachers and parents should help students ideate ways to spend the session break — through sports, crafts or other offline hobbies.”