47 seconds…this is how long it will take before you move on and stop reading this article.
In a world saturated with information, those who know how to focus have a head start.
While the internet was originally intended to open us up to the world, today it traps us in bubbles.
A screen lights up, a slight vibration, and our attention is gone. Instantly, our curiosity plunges us into a flood of notifications and endlessly scrolling videos. We are caught in a never-ending spiral.
The silent addiction lurking behind our screens
This is what daily life has become for the vast majority of teenagers. The rise of smartphones and social media has significantly affected attention spans, to the point that the scientific community is concerned about the long-term cognitive impacts.
A brand-new phenomenon has emerged: hyperconnectivity. This growing dependence on screens refers not only to the overconsumption of technology, but also to a behavioural addiction that impacts long-term mental health. The consequences of smartphones are manifold: anxiety is heightened due to constant demands, endless notifications, and information overload. Sleep is also disrupted by the blue light from screens, which delays the onset of sleep, leading to eye strain, sleep deprivation, and irritability. In fact, a Gallup study of a segment of the U.S. population showed that 20% of respondents slept less than 5 to 6 hours per night—a 42% increase in the reduction of sleep time from 2013 to 2023.
The dopamine and reward systems of algorithms reinforce addiction. This mode of interaction trains us to consume short-form content (carousels, Reels, Stories, etc.), which directly affects attention and concentration.
47 seconds of your attention
When Facebook was created in 2004, American psychologist Gloria Mark measured attention span in seconds while working on a computer. At that time, people spent an average of 2 minutes and 30 seconds focused on a single task. Within 14 years, that attention span had dropped significantly, reaching just 47 seconds by 2018.
How can we cope with this decline in attention span?
These new addictions require us to adjust, starting with managing our digital interfaces:
- Set screen time limits for our various social media platforms
- Mute notifications
- Turn off notifications for apps we do not use on a daily basis.
It is also essential to take care of our daily habits by avoiding screens in the evening before going to sleep, replacing this nightly ritual with reading, for example. This is a habit that can have real benefits for sleep and long-term mental health.
Beyond individual internet users, society must also promote the right to disconnect to preserve people’s ability to focus.
