the hidden truth behind our declining attention spans- Youtube

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Submitted by jay in technology

I just think this is super interesting :O TL;DR is in general, our attention spans aren't getting any significantly worse as a population. Advertisers are just getting a lot better at hijacking the attention spans we DO have, and the world is a lot more distracting!

I think it's nice to not feel like I'm somehow at fault for my attention span feeling so much worse, and hopefully knowing that I use infinite scrolling and switching rapidly between tasks as a coping mechanism will help me overcome it>.< What do you all think?

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purelyconstructive wrote

Sub for Saria's Song at the end there...Haha jk! Interesting video. Thank you for sharing! I agree with the main points.

Main Points:

  • It is not necessarily that our attention spans have gotten shorter, it is that things have gotten better at attracting and holding our attention. Attention might also vary depending upon the task, our personal state, etc.

  • People sometimes use short-form content as a coping mechanism, trying to get a shot of dopamine to help deal with daily stressors (e.g.: burnout, social phobias, etc.).

Personal Elaboration:

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jay OP wrote

Very good points and thanks for the further reading links!! I definitely think there has to be more accountability towards the people actively making and "improving" those systems; They did not spawn out of thin air, and they are not being used mindlessly. It is all very much deliberate.

The cycle of lows and highs is also important to verbalize, thank you. FOMO with social media is so so so common but there's also just the fact that once you integrate those platforms into your routine, it gets harder and harder to UN-integrate them (I don't think that's a word, but you get what i mean haha).

I've been having that problem with Twitter, even though I now am consciously aware that I just seek it out for a "quick hit" of dopamine or whatever. The endless stream of content, rage-bait, and colorful art makes it easy to get sucked in. I've been getting better at resisting that temptation but the fact that it's there in the first place really reminds me of how prevalent this problem is; and how it's by design, not by any personal moral flaw on my end.

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purelyconstructive wrote

...FOMO with social media is so so so common but there's also just the fact that once you integrate those platforms into your routine, it gets harder and harder to UN-integrate them (I don't think that's a word, but you get what i mean haha).

Haha! Yes, I know exactly what you mean. A good example is Google. They have many useful services, but the integration into nearly every facet of online activity seems like a security issue in general...

  • The searches made on Google, whether typed or spoken
  • The emails sent and received through Gmail
  • The apps downloaded through Google Play
  • The videos watched on YouTube
  • The books read on Google Books
  • The passwords and bookmarks saved on Google Chrome
  • The files uploaded to and downloaded from Google Drive
  • The translations done with Google Translate
  • Other accounts connected to a Google login
  • All navigation done with Google Maps
  • The photos and location of an Android phone
  • All sorts of home data from Google Nest?! ...and on and on.

It is like quicksand. One can stop tracking to some extent, but it can be discouraging to try to separate from it completely if one has a lot of stuff to replace or migrate, especially when it requires some level of technical knowledge and skill to do so (e.g.: setting up a "de-Googled" phone).

...I've been getting better at resisting that temptation but the fact that it's there in the first place really reminds me of how prevalent this problem is; and how it's by design, not by any personal moral flaw on my end.

As we gain awareness, it becomes easier to discern what will lead to over-dependency or self-empowerment, and to help others do the same. Strength and wisdom to you on this journey.

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