Fun fact: Humans may now have shorter attention spans than goldfish.
At least, that's what a now-redacted 2015 study claimed, which spread like wildfire when the internet caught wind of it. But contrary to popular belief, goldfish are smarter than we give them credit for. And the idea of shortened attention spans may be another misconception.
William James, the American philosopher, psychologist, and the first educator to offer a psychology course in the United States, said "Everyone knows what attention is. It's the taking possession by the mind in clear and vivid form of one out of what seems several simultaneously possible objects or trains of thought."
The human attention span is more complicated than we think. The issue of focus is not black and white. Those who work or aim to work in the field of the human psyche, such as those pursuing an online Master's in Mental Health Counselling, should remain up-to-date on current scientific research regarding the human attention span.
Have Our Attention Spans Really Gotten Shorter?
A lot can change in fifteen years. This is evident in the fact that the average human attention span has apparently decreased by around 25% between 2000 and 2015. What changed during that time? A lot, but one of the most notable changes is that most people now carry a tiny computer with which they can access almost anything in the world.
According to a study, the average attention span- which was 12 seconds in 2000- is now 8.25 seconds. But the statistics are not as clear as they could be. In fact, this study has now been removed, although the aftershocks of it still exist all over the internet. A psychology lecturer argues that these numbers are very much task-dependent and vary from person to person. In fact, many experts have debunked the idea of an average attention span. Additionally, the idea that goldfish have brief attention spans and no memories has been dismissed as a common misconception. In other words, those statistics were a little fishy.
And yet, despite the fact that our shortening attention spans- and the idea of an average attention span- is thought by some professionals to be a myth, many people feel like their attention spans are shortening. Many find themselves unable to focus on a task without checking their messages, scrolling through TikTok or checking their progress on a mobile game. In 2004, scientists witnessed that computer users stayed on one screen without switching their focus for an average of 2.5 minutes. By 2012 this had decreased to 75 seconds. A few years later it was just over 45 seconds.
If you fear that your attention span has decreased, you're not alone. Many Americans feel this way. And while science is unsure that our focus is truly getting worse, your feelings are valid.
Why You Might Feel Like Your Attention Span Has Gotten Shorter
We are constantly connected. You can find news from the other side of the world in real-time. Every day you are exposed to the opinions, thoughts, feelings and personal details of countless individuals. You hold a device in your hand with which you can access almost anything in the world. There are hyperlinks in the middle of everything.
Gone are the days when we had a few television channels and you had to watch what was on. You can now watch essentially anything you want, at any time. Streaming services release shows a full season at a time so you don't have to wait a week for the next installment. If you're bored, you can find a new show, and you can watch it peripherally as you play Subway Surfers and text 8 people. Shot lengths have gotten shorter. Binge-watching has become the norm.
Anyone can reach you, anywhere and at any time. And it can be difficult to continuously ignore those notification noises, especially when they pop up as a banner on the screen you're working on. Yes, our phones are Pavlov's worst nightmare. Is it any wonder we struggle to stay on track?
It may be a matter of too many choices. Your phone holds opportunities to game, socialize, create, learn, read, and much more. Algorithms predict what you want to see and serve it up to you. Why listen to a seminar when you could watch a cat video instead? There's a constant desire for fresh, engaging content to consume, and we want it fast. Reading a book may give you a hit of serotonin- but watching a 9-second video can give you the same thing but faster.
The enormity of the internet isn't just detrimental to our focus, it can also cause anxiety. For better or for worse, it's impossible to not be aware of all the terrible things happening in the world. Thank goodness we have cat videos to distract us.
But when it comes down to it, most people find that they can focus intently on a task that is engaging, enjoyable or important to them. Not only do they focus, but they also put in a significant amount of mental effort and critical thought. Whether a task is challenging- often called focused attention- or very simple, which is referred to as rote activity, the level of attention stems from whether the individual is engaged. A lecture on the potato famine may be boring and unworthy of attention to some. To others, it is exciting and engaging.
Despite what your aunt posts on Facebook, phones aren't necessarily the devil and millennials aren't killing the attention span industry. Phones can be great! But toxic, co-dependent relationships with our phones aren't great. It's healthy to give your phone some distance when you can.
How to Rebuild Your Attention Span
Do you feel that your ability to pay attention has decreased? Do you find yourself unable to sit through a whole movie or read a book without something else to entertain you? Good news! You can claw your way back to your pre-smartphone self.
When was the last time you went a full day without screens? It's probably been a long time. It can be difficult to digital detox when everything from your work to your medical appointments can rely on your smartphone. But finding time away from your phone can help you regain some control of your withering attention span.
Most of us need to use technology, and we aren't really given a choice. Even the most wary individuals have had to jump on the bandwagon. But we do have a choice in how we use social media. Deleting the apps that cause the most problems for you is a great start- unless that app is necessary for doing your job, monitoring your health or directing your car. Yes, we truly rely on these devices for everything, and it is both a blessing and a curse.
Find a screen-free task that requires very little focus and brain power but takes some time. Pair socks. Paint an abstract painting. Organize your DVDs by alphabetical order, if you still own DVDs. Take a walk. Write a letter to your grandma.
Attention spans are hard to measure. Only you can decide whether yours needs fixing. Hey, you made it to the end of this article! That means you probably focused for more than 8 seconds.
