Bengaluru: A Bengaluru-based startup founder has triggered a conversation on social media after sharing how a routine early morning trip to his badminton court convinced him that short-form videos have become an inseparable part of everyday life.

Aaditya Aanand, Founder and CEO of Multibagg AI, took to X to recount a series of encounters during his commute, claiming that almost everyone he came across was busy scrolling through reels.

Morning commute reveals a common habit

Aanand said he usually rides his bike to the badminton court at 6.40 am, but chose to book an autorickshaw instead. To his surprise, the driver neither called him nor appeared upset about the delay in coming downstairs.

Instead, the driver was engrossed in watching reels on his phone while waiting.

During the journey, Aanand noticed a similar scene at a traffic signal. A woman driving a Tata Nexon reportedly switched off her engine and immediately began scrolling through short-form videos while waiting for the signal to change.

Reels found everywhere

The pattern continued even after he reached the badminton facility. Aanand said the receptionist, an elderly man, was so absorbed in watching reels that he did not respond immediately when asked about the court number.

He also observed another player waiting for a badminton game to finish, but instead of watching the ongoing match, the individual was occupied with scrolling through reels on his smartphone.

Reflecting on the experience, Aanand concluded, “Reels have quietly taken over the world.”

Social media users relate to the observation

The post quickly gained traction, with many users agreeing that excessive screen time and endless scrolling have become common habits.

Several users shared their own efforts to reduce social media usage by limiting screen time, keeping phones away before bedtime and taking regular breaks from apps. Others highlighted the growing dependence on smartphones, saying people now instinctively check notifications every few minutes, making digital distractions an unavoidable part of daily life.

The viral post has reignited discussions on balancing technology use with real-world interactions and maintaining healthier digital habits. #Bengaluru #SocialMedia #Reels #Technology #DigitalWellbeing #NewsKarnataka