TikTok reels, edutainment, and eLearning: are we still learning or just scrolling?
"I spent 13 hours on TikTok reels... but I was learning!" That bold claim came from a Gen Z friend recently—and I nearly spat out my coffee. Hi, I'm Bianca Raby—digital education advocate, Learning Design nerd, and occasional soapbox climber. Today we're unpacking the collision of TikTok reels, edutainment, and eLearning—because something's not adding up.
TikTok reels and the rise of edutainment
TikTok reels and short-form videos are fun. I get it. I scroll too. The problem? We've started confusing edutainment with actual eLearning. And no, those aren't the same thing.
Edutainment is the idea that all learning needs to be entertaining—fast-paced, visually punchy, algorithm-friendly. As educators and learning designers, we're now being pressured to dance, joke, and sparkle our way through content just to keep up with TikTok reels.
But here's the hard truth: eLearning isn't supposed to feel like Netflix. Or TikTok. Or a comedy show.
Real learning vs. Reels learning
When you're watching TikTok reels, you're often consuming information, not processing it.
True eLearning requires:
- Cognitive effort
- Reflection
- Application
- Feedback
Edutainment? That's about keeping eyeballs on screens—not minds engaged. And if your brain isn't stretching, you're not learning. You're just being entertained.
One of my favourite books, Make It Stick, breaks it down beautifully. It reminds us that learning happens when:
- You self-quiz (retrieval)
- You mix concepts (interleaving)
- You spread study out (spacing)
Sound like your last TikTok binge? Nope, didn't think so.
What eLearning is NOT
Let's be clear:
- Watching 13 hours of TikTok reels is not eLearning.
- Consuming bite-sized info without questioning the source? Also not eLearning.
- Feeling "inspired" without taking action or applying knowledge? You guessed it—still not eLearning.
Yes, you might absorb some facts from edutainment on TikTok reels. But facts aren't the same as knowledge. And they certainly don't build skills or shift attitudes.
The TikTok effect on attention—and Learning Design
We're raising learners who believe everything should be short, shiny, and fun. But effective Learning Design requires more than that. It requires thoughtful structure, clear goals, and space for learners to struggle just enough to grow.
That doesn't mean eLearning should be boring. But if we rely solely on edutainment and TikTok reels for engagement, we're missing the point. We're designing for dopamine—not development.
Ask these before you learn on TikTok
- Who's teaching this?
- What are their credentials?
- Are they qualified to deliver eLearning?
- Are you critically engaging or just agreeing?
Don't confuse scrolling with schooling. TikTok reels might entertain, but true eLearning transforms. And that takes effort—on both sides.
Let's raise the bar above edutainment. Let's reclaim what learning really means.