We’ve all heard the warnings about social media harming teenagers’ mental health, but a startling new study reveals it’s affecting everyone’s attention span.
A meta-analysis from Griffith University in Australia examined 71 studies involving over 98,000 participants. The researchers found that engaging with short videos correlates with reduced attention spans and lower self-control.
Psychologist Jonathan Haidt, author of the book “Anxious Generation,” observed that early perceptions of social media’s impact focused primarily on young people’s mental well-being. He recently stated, “I now think the overarching damage may actually be a decline in our collective ability to focus.”
In a more intense interview, Haidt remarked, “As machines grow smarter, humans risk becoming less intelligent due to technology. It all began when we started carrying smartphones and scrolling aimlessly to avoid even a moment of boredom.” This is not just a teen issue; it’s a broader problem affecting people of all ages. John, a 27-year-old law student from Michigan, shared how platforms like TikTok and Instagram Reels negatively impact both him and his mother, a baby boomer.
He finds it challenging to watch TV without grabbing his phone and admits that he always engages with social media while eating.
John commented, “In class, it’s tough to focus on the professor’s words for more than a few minutes without checking my phone. It feels forced.” He preferred to remain anonymous to keep his family’s privacy intact. He added, “I’ve seen how my parents use Facebook, and it seems to affect them even more because they’re not aware of the manipulative tactics.” He believes that his retired mother spends around three to four hours daily on Facebook, which he finds quite disheartening. “This distracts her from genuinely enjoying the later stages of her life,” he said.
Research from Griffith University indicates that the negative effects of short-form content on attention span are evident across all ages and platforms.
The researchers suggested that continuous exposure to highly stimulating, fast-paced material could lead to a numbness, making people less capable of handling slower tasks like reading, problem-solving, or deep thinking, ultimately weakening the brain’s focus on single activities.
This is becoming increasingly noticeable in educational settings. Murphy Kenefick, a 28-year-old literature teacher in Nashville, reported that his students often struggle with sitting still or maintaining concentration on ideas. “Not only can they not read anything, they also find it hard to remain attentive in class,” he noted.
Some instructors are also feeling the impact. Jordan Snow, a former high school history teacher from Georgia who used to read extensively for her two degrees, admitted that social media has made it hard for her to maintain a consistent reading habit these days. “I found myself unable to watch a movie without picking up my phone to scroll,” said Snow, who is now 46.
Research findings at Griffith University also indicated that consuming short-form videos negatively affects impulse control.
There’s something rather unsettling about how Big Tech has begun to disrupt our conscious control over daily life. Teenagers often serve as early indicators, alerting us to looming issues.
Many feel the weight of this reality. A 2024 survey by Common Sense Media showed that 51% of 18- to 22-year-olds believe their attention spans have been shortened by social media.
24-year-old psychology student Hiba Belghazi from Montreal described YouTube as a “third parent” during her upbringing, noting that she developed a habit of doom scrolling when feeling bored or stressed.
Yet, she managed to set a personal goal to read 52 books this year and came close to achieving it. How did she do it? By deleting her social media apps and blocking YouTube on her browser. “Emotions I had buried re-emerged, and I felt restless after numbing myself with YouTube. We tend to underestimate the potential and energy wasted on these platforms,” she remarked.
