Q&A: Fast-paced TV shows

Hi! I’m Jacqueline Nesi, a psychologist and professor at Brown University, co-founder of Tech Without Stress, and mom of two young kids.

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How worried should I be about “fast-paced” TV shows and videos? Are slower-paced or “low-stimulating” shows actually better for kids?

This is a very common question, and one where there seems to be some misunderstanding. I don’t know about you, but I come across a lot of Instagram posts warning of the dangers of “fast-paced” shows and touting the benefits of “low stimulation” shows. So, what’s the deal?

Let’s start with a definition. What is a “fast-paced” show? There’s no agreed-upon cutoff for “fast” vs. “slow,” but generally, a show’s pacing refers to the “rate of onscreen audio-visual changes.” In other words: how frequently do the images move and change? How often do the sounds start and stop? Are there frequent camera cuts? An oft-cited (and loved/feared) example of a fast-paced show for little kids is Cocomelon.

There are two common concerns when it comes to fast-paced shows. One is the fear of “overstimulation.” The other is a somewhat unspecified fear of them being “bad for kids’ brains,” or impacting cognitive development. 

So, are these fears supported by evidence?