In a surprising reversal of technological progress, some parents are ditching streaming services in favour of VHS tapes to help their children develop patience. The trend, which has gained traction on TikTok, involves families cancelling subscriptions to platforms like Disney+ and Netflix and instead playing movies on the old-fashioned cassette format.
Proponents argue that VHS tapes offer slower-paced shows and lengthy previews, forcing children to wait for their chosen programme. TikTok user Janie George, whose post has been viewed over 890,000 times, wrote: 'Hoping to cultivate a longer attention span with slower-paced shows, full-length movies, watching previews, and having to rewind the movie again. Trying to teach that we don’t always get the exact show or episode we want at any given moment.'
Another TikToker, @reelmomstuff, explained in a viral video that VHS teaches her kids patience because there is no 'instant gratification' – they must sit through '20 minutes of previews.' Madi Swegle added that the format also allows parents to monitor content, saying: 'We know exactly what they’re watching.'
VHS tapes, introduced in the 1970s, revolutionised home entertainment and gave rise to rental chains like Blockbuster. They were largely supplanted by DVDs in the late 1990s and later by streaming services. However, if the trend continues, demand for second-hand tapes could increase. TikTok user @samanthavklase advised: 'Get on it now, because I have a feeling this trend is going to continue to go, and because of it prices are going to go up.'
