Videóba

Videóba is a Hungarian-neologistic term used in discussions of digital media to describe the phenomenon of immersion in video content. The word is formed from videó, meaning video, together with the directional suffix -ba, implying motion into or toward something, hence the idea of entering into a video experience. While not a standard dictionary entry, videóba appears in academic and media commentary as a metaphor for how audiences engage with online video, streaming platforms, and interactive media.

Usage and scope: In media studies and online discourse, videóba is used to discuss the cognitive and cultural aspects of intensive video consumption, including attention patterns, recommendation algorithms, and the design of interfaces that encourage prolonged viewing. The term is most common in Hungarian-language writing, and outside Hungarian contexts it may be encountered as a direct loan or as a poetic coinage.

Relation to platforms and formats: The concept is used to analyze phenomena such as binge-watching, scroll-and-watch behavior, and immersive formats like long-form series or interactive videos. Some researchers treat videóba as a rhetorical device to describe the shift from passive viewing to engaged, multimodal experiences.

Philosophical and social interpretation: Proponents argue videóba captures a key trend in the attention economy, where value is tied to time spent within a video ecosystem. Critics warn that excessive videóba can contribute to fragmentation of attention and echo chambers.

See also: video streaming, binge-watching, attention economy.