Find it hard to concentrate; It could mean your attention span is shortening

BY SIMONE J. SMITH

In today’s fast-paced world, it’s easy to get distracted. Have you ever found yourself losing focus while working or studying? You’re not alone. Do you find it hard to concentrate on a single activity for a long time? This could mean your attention span is shortening. Lately it may seem like external distractions, like noises, can easily pull you away from what you’re doing.

One clear sign of a shortening attention span is the frequent urge to check your phone, or social media. You might also find yourself losing interest quickly during meetings, or conversations. What you don’t realize or might not care about is that when your mind wanders, it can affect your ability to absorb important information.

Research indicates people’s attention spans have been shrinking over the last 20 years, and guess what is to blame? You got it; good old social media, and there is a specific type of consumption that we can blame for our shortening attention spans.

A new trend of social media consumption has arisen in recent years. In 2018, the video platform musical.ly was transformed into TikTok, a video platform where people: record, lip-sync, and share short-form videos, a type of video consumption where the attention of the user needs to be attracted in the first few seconds to keep them from scrolling towards the next video. This type of video production became increasingly popular, so that the direct traditional social media competitors like YouTube, Instagram and Facebook started to adopt this type of video consumption. It became one of the most popular video formats so much that people using social media are almost unable to miss this type of video platform

One study found that participants spent about an hour per day watching short-form videos and acknowledged their addictive nature. While immediate effects on attention span were not apparent, participants reported feeling less focused in their daily lives and recognized a connection between short-form video consumption and attention span. It is now becoming apparent that this trend of dwindling attention spans is affecting how we consume content, and I’m not just talking about social media videos — even television and film shots are getting briefer. 73% of consumers prefer to watch short-form videos to learn about a product or service, and 56% of marketers reported that short-form video was the top trend they planned to invest in in 2024.

Videos started out much longer. I can go back to videos like “Thriller” (Michael Jackson), which were seven to eight minutes long. Now, they now average about four seconds a shot length. If you watch MTV music videos, they’re much shorter; they are only a couple of seconds. The fact remains that we are becoming more accustomed to shorter bursts of content, and it’s bleeding into the kind of content we consume and what is being created.

So, why are short-form videos so popular? Science tells us that one of the crucial reasons we love short-form videos is that our attention spans are getting shorter and shorter. Turns out there are a few reasons, one of which involves a bit of psychology. Let’s get into it!

Short-form videos are videos that are less than 60 seconds in duration. However, short-form videos can be up to three minutes long. Studies found that most consumers will only watch an entire video if it’s less than 60 seconds long. Then you have apps like TikTok, YouTube Shorts, and Instagram Reels that push short-form videos to users in an infinite scroll format.

With long-form videos, marketers and creators must work extra hard to keep their audience engaged. That means strengthening the content with dynamic shots, mood-setting music, and a long but compelling script, and all that takes: more time, effort, and (most importantly) money.

Researchers have found that there has been a decrease in our attention span from 12 to 8.25 seconds in recent years. In addition to that, the concept of attention span is suddenly gaining popularity on social media, with memes portraying individuals referred to as “iPad kids” (etc.), who constantly seek entertainment through video games, and by other means. This constant exposure to short-form entertainment videos not only entertain, but also provides people the opportunity to constantly compare themselves to others, which can lead to detrimental effects if they constantly compare themselves to others who they see as “better people” than themselves.

By recognizing the signs of a shortening attention span and taking steps to address it, you can improve your productivity and overall well-being. Use techniques like the Pomodoro Technique. Work for a set period, like 25 minutes, then take a short break. This can help you maintain focus and give your brain a chance to rest. Incorporate mindfulness practices into your routine. Deep breathing, meditation, and regular breaks can help reduce stress and improve your attention span.

Individuals should be more aware of their social media usage and engage in self-regulation, while schools and policymakers can implement awareness programs and regulations on social media platforms. Additionally, providing mental health support and resources is crucial for those experiencing negative effects from excessive social media usage.

Remember, it’s about finding balance. Take care of your mind, and your mind will take care of you.