Stop watching, Start creating (EDIT 2025)

This is my submission for EDIT Educational Video Challenge 2025

Babeș Bolyai University - Romania

Valeria Stepanov - animation, script, editing
Iluzia - voice-over

Everyone's screentime seems to be growing as time passes by. My target audience is whoever relates to this problem. I would think a lot about how active I used to be in past years and how all of my recent memories consist of staying inside and wasting days consuming short form content on platforms like Instagram and YouTube Shorts.

In recent years, dopamine has become a buzzword. One that I (and many others) would use without fully understanding what it actually means or how it works. Everyone kept going on about how short-term content was designed specifically to spark dopamine in the brains of the consumers and keep them hooked. I heard terms like "dopamine cleanse" so many times.

After doing a little bit of research (this whole video is based off of "Dopamine Jackpot! by Robert Sapolsky") I decided I wanted this video to be educational for both other people and myself.

I sacrificed a lot to be able to properly work on this and finish it in time for the deadline. It's geniunely been the most gratifying work I've done in so long. Haven't even had the time to touch reels and I'm honestly proud of myself for creating something for the first time in so long.
I hope this video can hold at least a fraction of the educational value to you, as creating it did to me. Thank you for your time :D

FAIL - The feeling of disappointment and hopelessness that followed me around when I knew I was wasting precious time on content that wouldn't help me build a foundation for my future.
FUTURE - Mentioned twice: first at the beginning of the video, associated with avoidance and fear; second time near the end associated with hope and motivation.
FRIENDS - Mentioned twice: both times implied to be anchors, sources of motivation, support and quality time.

Background music: Sleeplessness - The Brothers Records (from YouTube Library)

Inspiration for this video:    • Dopamine Jackpot! Sapolsky on the Science ...