What do you usually do in your free time? Do you watch short videos on some apps? According to the China Internet Network Information Centre, the number of short video users reached 773 million in March, 2020. That is, about 86% of all Chinese Internet users are watching or making short videos, or both! If you say short videos are only popular in China，you are wrong. TikTok (抖音) has more than 800 million users around the world.
Many users like short videos. They say the videos not only make them relax, but also teach them useful skills. "I love watching Iao Qiao's short videos on my phone, "Francis, one of the short video users, says. "Lao Qiao is a famous cook and his videos are my favourite ones. From his videos, people can learn how to make Shaanxi noodles in no time at all. "
However, quite a few people think short videos are not that good. "There are many other ways to relax, like watching movies, reading books and playing sports, " they say. "All of them are more meaningful (有意义的) to people. "What's more，if people start watching the short videos， they can't stop. There are always new ones waiting for them, so they always spend hours on them.
Some teachers say people should not spend much time on short videos. " Most of them are just for fun, " they say. " They don't teach people to think or to improve themselves. It's not good for the people, and not good for society (社会), either. "
