The Dark Side of Instant Gratification in the digital age!

The Dark Side of Instant Gratification in the digital age!

We’re all used to getting what we want instantly in today’s digital world.
While this is a well-worn topic, I’m here to share my take on how constantly chasing quick fixes is slowly ruining our patience and long-term goals.

I am Titiksha Desai, a second year student of MIT WPU, and i would like to use this platform to share my thoughts and opinions with y'all!

We live in an era where everything is just a click away—food, clothes, information, love.
But here’s the catch: this era of instant gratification is slowly but surely eroding one of the most underrated virtues we have: patience.

Let’s face it, we’ve all been there: waiting for a website to load, only to refresh it in frustration as if we’re living in the Stone Age. Or binge-watching an entire season of a show in one sitting, because why wait when “Next Episode” is so inviting?
The issue is not just about wasting time—it’s about what we’re not learning in the process.

Instant gratification teaches us to expect everything on-demand.
Want to learn something? Google it.
Want to communicate? Text someone.
Want a hit of dopamine? Scroll through Instagram.
But what happens when we apply this mentality to things that require time and effort—like
career growth, personal development, or building lasting relationships?
Sadly, patience doesn’t get the memo.

Long-term goals require planning, persistence, and yes, delays.
The beauty of waiting, of delayed gratification, is in the lessons it teaches us.

However, being a teenager of this digital age, I am also dependant,
or rather addicted to the ease of instant gratification.
I am aware of how dangerous it is, but i also cannot stop myself from
falling into this digital trap over and over again.
I do know that the first step is probably acknowledging my
dependence, to then finally get rid of it.

In a world where everything comes fast, maybe the real challenge is
learning to savour the slow, and find joy in the process.

Thankyou:)