Overview

• Major outlets such as Hindustan Times, Mint and Times Now publish daily optical illusions challenging readers to spot hidden animals under strict time limits.
• On August 9, Hindustan Times challenged audiences to locate a camouflaged cat within ten seconds, extending this week’s series that featured frogs, spiders, birds and wolves.
• Countdown timers intensify the puzzles by balancing viewer frustration and satisfaction, driving social sharing and repeat visits.
• The craze originated in early July with number puzzles and shifted to wildlife camouflage on the FindTheSniper subreddit by mid-July, leading to widespread daily coverage.
• Visual perception experts say these rapid-fire challenges sharpen attention to detail but offer limited evidence of lasting cognitive benefits.