Colman Noctor: Technology is reducing our children’s attention spans

On the one hand, we seem to value our ability to concentrate considerably, so much so that any activity perceived as a waste of time is criticised. 

Also, we have become consumed with being ‘productive’ all the time. 

On the other hand, we seem to have a frivolous relationship with our attention as we spend considerable chunks of our time attending to superficial content found on platforms such as Instagram and TikTok. 

So why do we find ourselves going down the social media sinkhole, and what longer-term effect is this having on our attention spans?

Technology is designed to tap into our innate desire for instant gratification. Platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube deliver quick bursts of entertainment, creating a reward loop that keeps us returning for more. 

The swipe, scroll, and like functions with variable reward systems are designed to offer endless novelty at the cost of sustained focus.

However, while these features make technology engaging, the engagement level is shallow. Studies have shown that the average human attention span has shortened in the digital age. 

A 2015 Microsoft study famously found that the average human attention span has decreased from 12 seconds to eight seconds over 13 years, with social media usage a major contributing factor.

A recent survey carried out last year by Kapaw Primary in Britain asked primary school teachers if they thought children’s attention spans were getting shorter. 

Some 70% said pupils were more likely to move around the room, complain about boredom, and annoy or provoke others in the classroom. 

Most (84%) agreed that children’s attention spans were “shorter than ever”, with 69% noticing an increase in inattention and daydreaming.

The way my children and I watch TV is polar opposite. 

They whizz through the menu of their preferred streaming platform, passing sweeping judgements on all the offerings and dismissing them without even looking at a trailer. 

This channel hopping is primarily due to the limitless choices and ease of access afforded to them. 

Compare that to my childhood experience of painstakingly reading the covers of VHS cassettes in Xtravision or Chartbusters and deliberating over which one to choose. 

Once you decided, there was no going back. Even if you chose poorly and the movie wasn’t what you expected, most of us persevered, hoping it was a ‘slow burner’.

This process, alien to most children, taught about perseverance, patience, tolerance, and sustaining our attention. 

If we consider attention to be something that requires practice to develop, watching a VHS, among other activities, often allows our attentional muscles to get a workout.

But the problem is not just that we struggle to sit through a less-than-compelling movie. 

In the 2015 Microsoft study, nearly 80% of 18- to 24-year-olds reported multi-screening or looking at another screen, like a smartphone, while watching a movie or TV, making it even more difficult to focus on one thing.

Myth of multitasking

Technology can foster an illusion of productivity when we are multitasking. 

Whether juggling emails or messages while we do other activities or having endless open tabs on our desktops, this might make us feel busy, but multitasking fragments our focus. 

According to Dutch and Belgian educationalists Paul Kirschner and Pedro De Bruyckere, multitasking is a myth. 

They challenge the notion that we can multitask, saying they are instead task-switching, moving our focus and attention from one task to another, which is fundamentally different.

In their 2017 research, the educationalists claimed that switching between tasks taxes the brain, leading to mental fatigue and reduced efficiency. 

Our brains are wired for single-tasking, and the constant toggling between digital demands undermines our ability to concentrate on any one thing for long.

The big question is whether digital task shifting comes at a cost to our attention spans, creativity, and capacity for deeper thinking. 

This impact is perhaps the most concerning consequence of our children’s shrinking attention spans. Deep thinking requires uninterrupted time, a scarce commodity in a world buzzing with distractions. 

Writers, artists, and innovators often describe moments of insight emerging from prolonged focus — a receptive state that technology’s interruptions make increasingly rare.

Not all technological advances are inherently harmful to attention, and many podcasts I listen to regularly are over two hours long. 

Perhaps the popularity of podcasts like Diary of a CEO, Modern Wisdom, or The Huberman Lab, which are often more than 90 minutes long, are a direct response to our need for deep and long conversations. 

Still, I would worry that young people are not regular listeners to such podcasts.

Recent British research found that only 34.6% of eight- to 18-year-olds surveyed by the National Literacy Trust (NLT) said they enjoy reading in their spare time. 

This is the lowest level recorded by the charity since it began surveying children about their reading habits 19 years ago. 

Furthermore, in August, a survey of parents in Ireland in advance of its Readathon, MS Ireland found that because of regular reading, three-quarters (75%) of parents noticed their children’s imagination and creativity increased, and (68%) of parents reported regular reading enhanced attention and focus in their children.

Reclaiming our focus

The gradual decline in our attention spans requires thoughtful management.

If we can work on reclaiming our focus, we regain control over our time and rediscover the joys of being fully present in our lives.

While technology undoubtedly offers significant benefits, such as access to information, interactive learning, and improved communication, bright screens, rapid animations, and notifications can overwhelm a child’s cognitive capacity, leading to mental fatigue and reduced ability to concentrate.

In a double whammy, excessive screen time, especially before bed, can interfere with sleep quality, which is crucial for maintaining attention and cognitive function during the day.

So, what can we do to mitigate the adverse effects of technology on our attention? 

While screen time is not the most valuable metric for measuring a child’s relationship with technology, setting daily limits on non-educational screen use and encouraging children to take breaks from screens to engage in physical or creative activities can limit its harmful effect on their attention. Despite initial protests, parents must be firm about this and insist on screen-free spaces.

Teaching children to use technology intentionally is crucial. This involves encouraging them to focus on one task at a time and silencing unnecessary notifications. 

If children are engaging in their allocated screen time, encourage them to only focus on one task at a time. If they are playing Roblox, discourage them from perhaps watching YouTube at the same time.

Activities like reading, outdoor play, or hobbies will help build their attention span and reduce reliance on digital devices. Again, parents need to insist on children giving these activities a go despite their initial reticence.

Technology is like a double-edged sword. It can help foster learning and engagement, but excessive or chaotic use may harm our ability to focus. We must teach children the benefits of frustration tolerance, perseverance and sustained focus.

While they may never need to rent a movie from Xtravision or Chartbusters, patience, tolerance, and focus remain critical. Encouraging children to engage in tasks that deepen their concentration will help them develop and sustain these qualities as they navigate the world of work, friendships, and relationships.

Surely, this is worth investing in.

• Dr Colman Noctor is a child psychotherapist