Video essays dissect a specific topic, person, or event. Their popularity has soared in recent years. This shouldn't be surprising, given the very format of these videos appears designed to suck people in.

Typically uploaded on YouTube, video essays merge the conversational tone of a podcast with the engaging visuals of a film or documentary. Refreshingly, you click off the video essay feeling as though you've actually learned something. For many, this is a welcome change from the ‘brain rot’ that endlessly scrolling on TikTok or watching YouTubers review Taco Bell's latest menu can leave you feeling.

Here are ten recommendations for video essays that will probe your brain and make you think in new and diverting ways.

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1. Lady Bird, Gilmore Girls, and Coming of Age in Privilege

This video essay examines the controversies surrounding characters such as Rory Gilmore and Lady Bird. The creator zooms in and dissects plot lines and scenes, highlighting the impact the characters' privilege plays in making them unlikeable. The video also considers coming-of-age stories more generally.

Watch here.

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2. We're Chained to Our Phones and It's Scarier Than We Think

Video creator Shanspeare examines how over the past few years, people have become increasingly―and dangerously―addicted to their phones. She explores the negative impact of this addiction and considers how detaching yourself from your phone can lead to self-improvement.

Watch here.

3. ‘I’m Not Like Other Girls' in Young Adult Nooks

A popular trope in YA novels is the depiction of the protagonist as ‘not like other girls’. The creator of this video explores this trope's appearance in books such as Twilight, Shadowhunters, and Red Queen. She explains to viewers both what the trope entails, and its impact on YA readers.

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4. Unpacking Every Taylor Swift Conspiracy Theory

One of the more humorous videos on this list, uncarley spends 25 minutes unpacking Taylor Swift's conspiracy theories. She explores theories ranging from the idea that Taylor Swift knows that Harry Styles ran someone over, to the theory that Taylor Swift is an asset to the Pentagon and is being used by the Democratic Party to push them to an election win.

Watch here.

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5. How Consumption Ruins our Planet and Finances

Less than ten minutes long, this video explores how consumerism is a force that harms both individuals and the planet at large. The creator enlightens readers about the danger of excessive consumption and informs them on what they can do to combat it.

Watch here.

6. Bookstores: How to Read More Books in the Golden Age of Content

In the twenty-first century, people have access to a seemingly endless sea of content. They can watch Netflix, scroll through social media, and play a game on their phone whenever they choose. This video considers how to make time for books amid all this content.

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7. Life Doesn't End in Your 20s: The Myth of the Teenage Dream

This is a great essay to watch if the prospect of leaving your teenage years frightens you. It examines how the media has romanticized the teenage years so much that it leaves individuals daunted by the idea of aging out of them. The creator demonstrates a depth of knowledge that conveys both her passion and the amount of research she has invested into the creation of the video.

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8. Anatomy of a Rom-Com

This is one of the more light-hearted video essays on this list. It dissects the components of the Hollywood romantic-comedy, considering what elements are needed to make a successful rom-com. It's a great video to ease you into the genre of video essays.

Watch here.

Image Credit: Tima Miroshnichenko from Pexels

9. Nowhere to Go: The Loss of Third Places

Third places refer to a social place outside the first place (home) and the second place (work/school). Such places are considered essential to a person's well-being. In this video, Elliot Song considers how people are spending a growing amount of time in virtual spaces like social media and how this is resulting in growing loneliness and unhappiness.

Watch here.

10. CoreCore, and why TikTok Stopped being Fun

A good video to watch if you want a push to make you leave TikTok. The creator considers Tiktok's dangerously addictive nature and reiterates the importance of limiting your time on the highly popular app. At only twenty minutes, it's short enough to watch in one go, while still managing to leave you feeling as though you've learned something.

Watch here.

Image Credit: O'Sullivan from Pexels

If you enjoy watching any of these videos, I highly recommend you check out the content creator's channel to see the other great video essays they've produced. Don't be surprised if watching them leaves you feeling like the next Socrates!