The estimated reading time for this post is 2 minutes
Your fears are true: the Internet is affecting our brains. In case you suspected that your attention span is dwindling, you might be right. A recent study by Microsoft has shown the impact that technology is having on the way we use our brains and, well, it isn’t pretty.
When was the last time you had to remember a phone number? Could you remember it? How about your license plate number? Are you better at remembering facts now or are you relying looking up everything you need to know?
Microsoft studied 2000 participants in Canada to test the length of their attention span and whether it has changed over time. The study found that the average attention span of a study participant in the year 2000 was 12 seconds. In 2013 that average attention span had decreased to 8 seconds.
The average attention span of a goldfish is 9 seconds.
This decrease in attention span over the years was attributed to personal technology. The study found that “Long-term focus erodes with increased digital consumption, social media usage, and tech savviness. Overall, digital lifestyles have a negative impact on prolonged focus.”
[note] For more on this topic, check out Has Technology Made Us Smarter or Dumber? [/note]
The researchers also found that 77% of 18-24 year olds reach for their phones when they’re bored, while only 10% of those over 65 do the same. 18-24 year olds also like to multi-task more than older folks with 79% of the younger set reporting that they often use other devices while watching TV while only 42% of those over 65 are using a second screen.
According to the study, the top factors having an impact on our attention are:
• Media consumption
• Social media usage
• Technology adoption rate
• Multi-screening behavior
The good news is that the participants were very focused during their short bursts of attention. Social media users were especially prone to brief periods of focus but the information was processed rapidly.
The study concluded, “While they may have lower sustained attention overall, moderate to heavy social media users have more intermittent bursts of attention (high intensity for short durations) in the short-term… (T)ech adoption and social media usage are training consumers to become better at processing and encoding information through short bursts of high attention.”
Are you still reading this? Am I about to lose you?
19% of viewers will leave a page within 10 seconds. If you’re still with me, you’re in the upper 81% of people with a longer attention span.
SlideShare
Here’s a SlideShare to show you more data, in an engaging format:
You can download the full report from Microsoft here:
Microsoft Attention Span Study
Your Thoughts
Have you found your attention span has been affected by technology? Do you multi-task as you’re watching TV? Are you still reading this article? (Well done, you are so much more focused than a goldfish!) What keeps you engaged? Share your thoughts with us in the Comments section below.
I am away from the Internet until August 24 trying very hard to increase my attention span to beyond that of a goldfish. Wish me luck.
Articles will continue to be published at The Wonder of Tech while I’m away.
Dear Carolyn! I must say its a great topic to discuss and you have shared some pretty good information and stats which actually prove that how difficult is to pay the attention and how technology is responsible for it. Slide show was very good and the data was very accurate to justify that. Now walking in your shoes, I also would like to go for a sabbatical leave from technology. At least I will also revive back my attention paying skills. Great work. Would love to hear more from you. Cheers.
Hi Ovais, Yes, I was able to take a break from technology, though I’m not sure my attention span increased any while I was away. My inability to access the Internet was well worth the sacrifice as I thoroughly enjoyed the nature of Alaska on my trip.
I hope you do get to take a break, Ovais, and enjoy the serenity of the world.
Hi Carolyn! WOW!!! What a compelling and slightly depressing post! Depressing in that I am absolutely certain that not only is our attention span decreasing but so is our ability to communicate in person with our full and uninterrupted attention. I find that so sad and yet I am admittedly among the addicted and, I absolutely KNOW that my attention span has decreased substantially. I know that going off the tech grid every once in awhile is a solution but I feel that there should be more but I’m not sure what that “more” is. Our first grandchild was born a few days ago and I am concerned about what is in store for upcoming generations!
Thanks for another fascinating post Carolyn. Oh, and BTW….I made it through the whole article AND the slide show! YAY! 🙂
Hi Claudia, Good for you, making it through the entire article. Your attention span may not be as affected as you think!
You’re right, your grandchild is being born into a different world than the generations born into the 20th century. I do believe it’s important for us to think about how technology is affecting our society and our brains. We are living in a period of rapid and dramatic change sociologically and psychologically so seeing the big picture is essential, though I don’t think we can stop the train or even slow it down. But perhaps we can divert it to a path that’s better for us individually and as a society.
Thanks for sticking through the entire article and for leaving your wonderful comment, Claudia!
Well, I normally can’t read blog posts for very long. I normally read these things if I need to find a solution to a problem that I’m having. So yes, my attention span is limited but as long as the article is relevant, my focus will prolong my visit and read the article in detail.
And when I’m done, I either comment and say, “Thanks for the solution” as I would show my gratitude or comment a problem that kind of diverse from the current problem.
Hi Qoyyuum, So glad you were able to make it to the end of this article and take the time to leave a comment. I take that as a compliment, based on your comment!
Excellent point, if an article or irrelevant to us, it may not deserve our attention. We only have so much time in the day so we should spend our time on articles that provide value to us. Perhaps a lack of focus is the way our brains are evolving to more effectively filter out irrelevant and unimportant information. In that case, a lack of focus may be a beneficial change to our brains.
Carolyn,
Funny, I didn’t read this from start to finish – as I was on FB and Twitter at same time! It’s so true, we are less focused than ever. I had seen this on a sales presentation we use to show clients how & what people are doing on the internet – it truly amazed me but realize it is TRUE. I rarely watch TV but sometimes when I do I am on the smartphone at the same time. And how many times I shut the laptop off thinking I’m done and then see a notification on the phone and go back online there? Often!
I wonder how that will affect the next generations to come as well?
Thanks for sharing and have a great rest of the week!
Hi Lisa, You’re not alone. Many of us use a second screen when we’re watching TV. Networks are even encouraging us to do that, including hashtag suggestions during shows. They also may have extra content online or in apps so we can share on social media and have an enhanced experience.
But often our second screen isn’t being used to supplement the show we’re watching but to divide our attention by checking email, social media, using apps, etc. Our diminished ability to focus on one thing is probably because we have access to so much information at once, it seems almost lazy not to stuff our brains with more stuff!
Good point, we have no idea what impact this tech will have on future generations, but current tech seems to be having the biggest impact on the brains of younger generations. Who knows what future tech will bring us? One thing we do know is that tech doesn’t stand still, it keeps advancing. I just hope that the advancement of tech doesn’t mean the devolution of our species.
These issues are why I deliberately do things like memorize my credit card number and PIN. There are some memory issues I expect to have as I age. Like my phone- it’s a mental blind spot for me. Every single night I lose it and have to use my iPad to call it on Skype.
Doesn’t matter if I always leave it in the same place or plug it in.
On the other hand I still remember every phone number I’ve had that didn’t have an extension. And when I order online I make the tip round up to the next even dollar so I have to do the math in my head.
I really think we’re going to keep losing things like attention span and memory unless we deliberately fight against it. On the upside, it’s possible those things get replaced by other useful skills.
Hi Tinu, Great idea to exercise your brain to keep it sharp. You’re right, we can fight this if we work a little harder by trying to pay attention longer, try to memorize numbers and do puzzles to strengthen our thinking skills. Never surrender!
Do you have an iPhone, Tinu? If so, you can use Find My iPhone from your iPad or any computer to ping your phone, locate it on a map and even wipe it if it’s lost for good. Check out:
Find My iPhone – The Very First App You Should Get https://wonderoftech.com/find-my-iphone/
and
How to Find Your iPhone Even After the Battery Dies https://wonderoftech.com/iphone-send-last-location/
Hi Carolyn,
I have no attention span! I watch TV for a few minutes and then pick up my laptop, even in bed. I do focus intensely though, I do a lot of research and now I’m admin of our local history page I find lots of snippets of local history every day. I always think I’ll struggle to find any, but manage to find extracts of text and pictures daily. I even write some articles on the Anglo Saxon history. I don’t do much with my phone, when I need it to work, if often lets me down. I was at a funeral last week and my sister hadn’t arrived and I needed to phone her. I couldn’t see the screen in the sunshine and when I did get through her phone was switched off. She went to the wrong crematorium! I often fail to get wifi or a signal for data when I’m waiting at the doctors or hospital and need something to occupy me. I thought about taking my tablet, but I would probably have the same problem. My latest tech problem was not being able to get my own website but everyone else’s. It turned out it was being blocked by my new router!
I’m photographing people more now and events. I have to mount some photos on card for a competition and then submit them in person. I tried mounting one, it didn’t go well! I will wait for good natural light so I can see well and try again. I framed some andpeople are asking about buying them already!
Hi Mike, Yes, the first step in dealing with our focus issues is understanding that it’s an issue. If you’re feeling that your focus is getting words, you’re not alone. It’s happening to us all and tech is most likely the culprit. Realizing it’s happening can help us to start to try to improve our focus.
You really are having tech issues. Yes, when we’re trying to meet up with someone, it’s a great idea to have our phones turned on so we can make sure that we’re there at the right place and time.
Sorry about all of the tech issues you’re having. Try checking with others at the hospital or taking your tablet to see if there is a Wi-Fi signal. If your phone isn’t connecting well, perhaps you’re having an antenna issue with your phone if other devices can connect.