The Return of Long-Form Content

It’s mid-March 2020 and we’re all stuck at home, scrolling tirelessly, trying to find something to keep us entertained. Then along comes Tik Tok; 15 seconds of whatever you’re into, dance routines, lip syncs and comedy skits. It's short, it’s fun and it's digestible. And soon enough, everyone from your neighbour to your favorite brand is posting bite-sized content designed to make you stop mid-scroll.

And for a while, that worked. Short-form content became the standard. Instagram launched Reels, YouTube rolled out Shorts, and suddenly everything had to be fast. Attention spans were the new currency. But here’s the twist: after years of being fed a steady stream of quick hits, people are craving something slower. More intentional. More real.

Welcome to the era of the long-form content comeback.

The rise of longform is really a response to something deeper: the need to slow down.We’ve reached a point where everything feels optimized for clicks instead of connection and as a result audiences are tuning out. Longform content, on the other hand, offers the opposite; it creates a space for trust and relatability. You’re not just showing up for a quick 10 seconds; you’re inviting your audience to slow down with you, to think, to feel, to reflect.

As it stands today, podcasts are pulling in record listenerships. In fact, by the end of 2025, global podcast listeners are projected to reach 584 million listeners. In Canada alone, 46% of adults listen to podcasts monthly. 

We’ve been shown that audiences aren’t simply watching or reading anymore, they’re investing in the story, craving context, backstory, and authenticity, wanting to understand the “why” behind the “what”. Docuseries like Starting 5, The Perfect Neighbor and The Blue Zones are great examples of this, showing how powerful storytelling can be when the content is given room to breathe. 

So, the next time you find yourself chasing trends, try choosing stories with substance instead; a thoughtful newsletter that pulls back the curtain on your creative process, a podcast that shares honest conversations with your community or even a behind-the-scenes mini series that shows what goes into your work. Because at the end of the day, it’s these stories that linger and truly connect. 

--

Written by: Gabrielle Telemaque