Kunal Shah’s Message To Reel-Obsessed Youth On Wealth Creation Goes Viral

Last Updated:June 28, 2026, 09:58 IST

After Meta invests 900 million in CRED and names Kunal Shah global head of WhatsApp, his old video on wealth, productivity and short form content use sparks online debate

Kunal Shah’s educational background breaks with conventional Silicon Valley leadership profiles, as he studied philosophy before becoming an entrepreneur.

Days after Meta announced a $900 million investment in CRED and appointed founder Kunal Shah as the new global head of WhatsApp, an old video of the entrepreneur has resurfaced online. In the viral clip, Shah shares his views on wealth creation, productivity and why he believes young people should spend less time consuming short-form content and more time building skills.

What did Kunal Shah say?

In the viral video, Shah argues that wealth has become more important than ever, but access to technology alone is not enough to create it.

“Wealth has become more important than ever before. India is among the highest consumers of mobile data in the world. But despite everyone having the same 24 hours in a day and access to the same powerful devices, productivity is still not part of our core DNA,” he says.

Smartphones offer opportunity, but how they are used matters

According to Shah, affordable smartphones and cheap internet have given millions of people access to learning, information and business opportunities. However, he believes many users spend too much time consuming short-form videos and entertainment instead of using technology to build skills, learn new things or create value.

He suggests that the biggest difference between people who build wealth and those who do not is often how they choose to spend their time and attention rather than the resources available to them.

Viral clip sparks online debate

The resurfaced video has triggered widespread discussion on social media. Many users agreed with Shah’s observations, saying excessive scrolling on reels and short-video platforms has become a major distraction for young people.

Others, however, argued that entertainment is not inherently unproductive and said maintaining a healthy balance between leisure and skill development is more important than completely avoiding social media.

About the Author

Varun Yadav

Varun Yadav is a Sub Editor at News18 Business Digital. He writes articles on markets, personal finance, technology, and more. He completed his post-graduation diploma in English Journalism from the I…Read More

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