As digital fatigue sets in and Gen Z’s attention spans fracture, Snap Inc. alumni Vineet Kapil reflects on why depth, clear storytelling, and long-term reasoning matter more than ever.
In 2004, the average user focused on a single screen for 2.5 minutes. By 2025, that window had shattered into a mere 1.7 seconds on mobile before the reflex to scroll took over.
According to a 2025 report from Ambitions ABA, the average human attention span has dipped to 8.25 seconds—a nearly 25% decline since 2000. For Gen Z, the first fully “digital native” generation, the landscape is even more fragmented; they rapidly switch apps, favoring short-form content where YouTube Shorts engagement has spiked 118% and TikTok videos under 15 seconds boast 80% completion rates.
In an ecosystem designed for distraction, the prevailing wisdom for designers and brands has been to condense, truncate, and shout. But Vineet Kapil, a Los Angeles-based product designer and former Core Product Designer at Snap Inc., is challenging that convention. He advocates for complementing short-term engagement with long-term systems that endure. “I think it’s getting to a point where it’s becoming easier to misread than to read,” Kapil says, reflecting on the state of the digital world in 2026.
The Paradox of the Infinite Scroll
Kapil’s perspective is shaped by a unique trajectory. Growing up in New Delhi, India, his fascination with technology began at age 11, customizing Android ROMs and creating themes for iPods. This early immersion in the mechanics of user interfaces, combined with the practice of explaining tech to a joint family, instilled a deep empathy for user experience. He pursued a Bachelor’s in Interaction Design at Delhi Technological University, a path that wasn’t established when he started, forcing him to hustle for opportunities through Reddit and LinkedIn.
His career path reads like a masterclass in adaptability: from designing mental well-being apps and coordinating government education projects in India to securing a full-time role at Snap Inc. after cold-emailing the company. At Snap, where he designed Chat features impacting 447 million daily users, Kapil worked under the direct mentorship of CEO Evan Spiegel and collaborated on core product features.
It was at Snap, a platform synonymous with ephemeral, fast-paced communication, that Kapil crystallized his philosophy on long-term design.
Reasoning Backward from the Root
In a world obsessed with quarterly metrics and viral spikes, Kapil’s methodology is architectural. He describes his approach as “unfolding contextually on a blank canvas.”
“I think about long-term product work as walking back towards the root problem,” Kapil explains. “Trying not to ask ‘what’s the most important thing right now?’ in isolation. And instead, thinking in sequences: what does this decision unlock next, and what does that make possible after?”
This sequential thinking is a direct rebuttal to the reactive design cycles that dominate the industry. While many designers are forced to optimize for immediate engagement—tweaking button colors or shortening copy to fit a 1.7-second scroll window—Kapil advocates for a compounding approach.
“Each step compounds on the last, gradually reinforcing the foundation so future work is easier, faster, and more aligned with the root problem we’re trying to solve,” he says.
Kapil’s Approach: The “Then What?” Framework
So, how does one practice long-term thinking in a short-attention span economy? Kapil shares a simple exercise “Repeatedly asking ‘then what?’ forcing a second, and third-order view of consequences.”
The question shifts from “Does this perform well now?” to “Does this still hold up a year from now?” For Kapil, this means slowing down mentally, even if operations must move quickly. It’s about designing outcomes that don’t just start strong but end well, evolving responsibly to solve the real problem rather than just managing it.
Cracking the Gen Z Code: Authenticity Over Polished Fluff
For brands struggling to hold the attention of Gen Z—the demographic most affected by the fragmentation of single-screen engagement—Kapil’s advice is rooted in psychology rather than aesthetics.
“Gen Z has a strong radar for marketing fluff,” Kapil states. “Over-produced ads, scripted influencer reads, or exaggerated claims get ignored fast.”
Instead, he suggests leaning into radical transparency. “Brands that openly admit flaws, mistakes, or trade-offs feel more human and trustworthy. ‘We’re still figuring this out’ can resonate more than pretending everything is flawless.”
This vulnerability cuts through the noise of a hyper-stimulated environment. Kapil also notes that while chaotic or absurd content can capture the fleeting gaze of a scroller, it must be authentic to the brand’s personality.
“Lean into niche humor, internet culture, and self-aware jokes that feel native to the platform,” he advises. “Forced ‘randomness’ feels try-hard.”
The Future: From Addictive to Useful
Looking ahead to the future of social media, Kapil sees a necessary evolution. With scrolling habits “maxed out,” platforms can no longer compete solely on being more addictive.
“To grow and stay relevant, they have to be useful, context-aware, and integrated into life,” Kapil predicts. “I see social media serving more of the real goals like creation, organization, connection, or learning new things, earning time intentionally, rather than hijacking it.”
