The Return of Longform. Are you ready?
Why shortform fatigue is real - and the next big wave is depth, not speed.
The internet moves fast. Really fast. Too fast.
For the past five years, creators have been sprinting - trying to chase seconds of attention on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube Shorts.
Every frame has to be a hook and every moment has to earn retention. Every edit is a plea: “Don’t scroll! For the love of God, make this go viral!”
But something interesting is happening…
Audiences are getting tired. And not just the old folks like me.
The Attention Rebellion
You can feel it in the data - and in the comments.
People want to slow down. They want to be absorbed, not just stimulated. They want storytelling, not just snippets.
The rise of podcasts, longform YouTube essays, docu-style brand films, and serialized storytelling isn’t a coincidence - it’s a correction.
Attention is cyclical. After years of speed, people start craving depth.
Why Longform Is Making a Comeback
Trust > Virality
Audiences don’t build loyalty from 15-second clips - they build it from 15-minute conversations. Longform gives space for context, vulnerability, and credibility.Algorithms Are Evolving
YouTube’s recommendation engine now prioritizes session duration (total time spent on platform) over individual video retention. Longform keeps people around longer - and creators who understand that will win.Creators Are Burned Out
Shortform demands constant novelty. Longform rewards consistency and craft. It’s sustainable. It’s fulfilling. It feels like work that matters.Brands Are Catching On
The smartest brands are funding longform series, mini-docs, and podcasts - not because they go viral, but because they build authority. Longform builds belief.
📽️ The Filmmaker’s Advantage
Filmmakers already have the storytelling instincts that longform rewards - pacing, tone, rhythm, emotional arcs.
So while everyone else is chasing another 7-second trend, the filmmakers who lean into narrative, structure, and immersion will own the next wave.
Did you catch that part? ☝️ It’s important.
Because the future isn’t about making more videos. It’s about making videos that mean more.
🛠 Tool Spotlight:
Descript’s New Podcast Studio - The most underrated upgrade of 2025. I used Descript way back in the early days as it was touting text-based editing. And then again as it was one of the first to market in the AI voice clone arenas. This new update turns video podcasts into full post-production environments - editing video, cleaning audio, and cutting highlights simultaneously. It’s the bridge between filmmaker storytelling and creator workflow. Maybe it’s worth another look.
📈 Why It Matters
Shortform built audiences. Longform will build brands.
The next decade won’t belong to whoever can grab attention the fastest - it’ll belong to those who can hold it the longest.
See you in the deep end,
Alex