As short videos continue to be on the rise, many doctors, parents, and even kids are realizing the danger of the endless scroll. Although it is an effortless way to pass time when people are bored, sad, or just needing a break, these videos are doing more than just the occasional dopamine hit; they are also shortening one’s attention spans.
In today’s world, social media use and doomscrolling are some prevalent pastimes for teens. More often than not, these scrolling breaks can turn into an hour wasted watching short videos. Nationwide Children’s Organization thoughtfully shares, “Scrolling through bite-sized content constantly trains the brain to seek quick, immediate rewards. As a result, it becomes harder to focus on more complex tasks, whether it’s homework, reading a book, or engaging in thoughtful conversation.” These videos are hurting one’s attention span, but are addictive in a way that brings one an essential mood boost on a hard day.
CdM freshman Lilly Gosling shares her opinions on scrolling affecting attention spans. She said, “Social media affects our attention spans because short videos encapsulate your brain and give it quick dopamine hits, and therefore you can’t focus and stay on task for as long.” Freshman Olivia Fong also voiced on scrolling in her daily life. She said, “Scrolling affects my attention span because when I watch shows or movies, I get bored easily. Sometimes when I scroll, I can not stop, and I am working on scrolling less.” These students voiced their opinions and concerns about scrolling in daily life.
The effects of scrolling on one’s brain also go deeper than attention spans; they also have effects on learning in school. Overall, teachers have seen a drastic decrease in teens’ attention spans around the globe. An article by Brooke Kato from the New York Post said, “In fact, 85% of teachers surveyed are blaming kids’ unruly behavior on the uptick in social media usage and the ‘ever-swiping nature of social media,” according to the Guardian. These teachers voiced out how children were more likely to complain of boredom and try to entertain their peers instead of focusing on the lesson plans.
Overall, the effect of social media on teens and kids has been hurting their attention spans and also their learning in school. Many people are encouraging monitored social media use to combat this issue, and social media companies are making more safeguards for kids every day.
