Attention span refers to the time during which a person can maintain concentration on a single task, activity, or stimulus.
Being a crucial part of human cognitive functioning, it influences how we learn, work and interact with the environment.
Reduced attention span is more like a global pandemic that has affected every individual on the planet directly or indirectly. Research shows that the average attention span of a human being is only 8.25 seconds, less than that of a goldfish (9 seconds).
This is considered one of the most documented cognitive changes of the 21st century. Research led by Dr. Gloria Mark of the University of California, Irvine, has tracked the average duration of focused attention on digital screens over a 20-year period.
The research found that in 2004, the average attention span was approximately 150 seconds, which dropped to 75 seconds in 2012. Recent data from 2012 reveals that this figure has dropped to 75 seconds. While in 2024, the average attention span has plummeted to just 47 seconds.
This suggests a broader restructuring of the human cognitive base. The decline is mainly related to the disruption between two main attention systems, that is, the involuntary system (reacts to external stimuli) and the goal-oriented system (allows sustained concentration).
Digital platforms, especially social media, are designed to activate the involuntary system through constant notifications, vibrant visual cues, and algorithmic unpredictability. This constant trigger systematically fatigues the prefrontal cortex (the region of the brain responsible for executive function and impulsive control).
How does the human brain change attention?
With each shift in attention, a “switching cost” occurs. It refers to the measurable reduction in performance, particularly slower reaction times and increased errors that generally occur when the brain diverts attention from one task, rule, or mental set to another.
Since the human brain works like a serial processor, it cannot multitask in the literal sense. Rather, it engages in rapid task switching. To process each change, it takes several minutes for the brain to regain its focus.
In a digital environment dominated by short-form content, where a user consumes different 15- to 30-second video content in a single session, the brain remains in a continuous state of partial attention.
This continuous state prevents the human cognitive system from entering a state of flow, a condition in which the brain can develop deep engagement that is necessary for complex problem solving and creative synthesis.
Additionally, the constant drive to check notifications from social media platforms activates the sympathetic nervous system that keeps the body in a low-level “fight or flight” state.
The psychological stress response, as measured by elevated heart rate and perceived stress levels, contributes to the modern epidemic of digital burnout and generalized anxiety.
