Researchers have confirmed that the attention span of the modern individual has significantly decreased.
This issue isn’t limited to the average adult, who can focus on a task for just 17 minutes and 10 seconds amidst a whirlwind of problems. Scientists assert that the situation is even worse for half of Generation Z, aged 18 to 24, who admit to getting distracted every 60 seconds. Interestingly, this level of mental wandering is typical for only 7 percent of people over 65.
What Did the Researchers Discover?
Experts from Nest, a company studying contemporary social issues, conducted a survey among 2,000 residents of the United Kingdom. The researchers concluded that adults’ attention spans have notably declined. A staggering 36 percent of respondents reported a decrease in their ability to concentrate. The study revealed that the average Brit can listen to another person for just 19 minutes.
According to the survey, they spend nearly the same amount of time—an average of 19 minutes and 49 seconds—dealing with financial matters. When it comes to work tasks, they can focus for about 20 minutes and 40 seconds, as reported by the Daily Mail.
Furthermore, 39 percent of respondents admitted to feeling the urge to check their phones when they lose interest in something. A significant 45 percent of participants acknowledged that they jump from one task to another, while 42 percent of those surveyed allow themselves to daydream instead of concentrating on the task at hand.
Only one-fifth of respondents (specifically, 22 percent) reported an improvement in their attention span.
Three Culprits Behind the Decline
The primary factors contributing to the decline in attention span were identified as fatigue, stress, and mobile phones.
Gavin Pereira-Betts, the lead researcher, noted, “Constant notifications, social media, and instant access to information can affect our ability to concentrate for extended periods. But it’s not just technology to blame—stress and fatigue also play a significant role. When we are tired or stressed, it becomes difficult to maintain focus.”
In 2015, Microsoft experts claimed that the average attention span of modern individuals is only 8 seconds, even shorter than that of a goldfish, which is about 9 seconds. (According to a new theory, goldfish can concentrate better than modern humans. – Ed.).
However, this figure was later disputed due to a lack of compelling evidence.