Regardless Of Age We Now All Seem To Have The Attention Span Of A Gnat
By Tom Foremski - April 5, 2009
It seems as if it doesn't matter how old you are, kids or grownups and beyond, everyone is complaining they are having trouble focusing on tasks, and that they are constantly distracted.
I remember when MTV launched in 1981. The music videos were a big hit at the time, they were imaginative and innovative -- it was very compelling content. But there were concerns that the fast edits, combined with the seductive imagery of the music world, would shorten the attention span of viewers, especially kids. There was talk of an "MTV attention span" syndrome.
However, today I know people that would kill to have the breadth of an MTV attention span. In this world where worlds of compelling content are just a click away, it's like being in a garden of Eden and feasting on every type of fruit, a cornucopia of amazing content and knowledge. And it is all available in any format you want, at anytime, and in anyplace.
The death rattle of the newspaper industry makes it seem as if media is dying, yet there is more media being created today than at any other time in human history.
Plus, there is more compelling content today than at any other time. And it has never been easier to find because our social networks constantly tip us off on Twitter, Facebook, Friendfeed, email, sms, blogs, phone, and when we get together to talk. We are all sharing (and creating) massive amounts of compelling content, all the time.
The problem with compelling content is that it's compelling. That's why we now all seem to have the attention span of a gnat.
I've been thinking about this question for a while: In a world of compelling content what do you do? How do you deal with the distraction of its easy reach and abundance?
I have a suggestion. I'd love to hear yours, please send to tom(at)foremski.com or leave a comment.
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Comments (3)
The only thing that works for me is threefold: focusing on quality vs. quantity; using tools that let me 'segment' incoming info; and limiting overall 'browsing' time to fit within a broader schedule.
For quality, I look at signal:noise ratio. Some folks rate high on that, while others (even though they may be incredibly interesting) don't. It's a fairly brutal, Darwinian approach ... and highly personalized since everyone uses media for different purposes. In terms of tools, I wouldn't get any value out of twitter without Tweetdeck - the ability to be in a 'frame of mind' when sifting info is so helpful. That said, I'd like to be able to create more than 10 categories. :) By the time you take care of the "highly useful" and "highly interesting" categories, you're almost full-up... And limiting time is just a discipline thing.
All of this doesn't completely solve the problem - as you said, there's so much quality content out there - but it gets me closer and on some level, you have to trust that the people you choose to 'friend' and/or 'follow' and/or 'read regularly' are effective generators/filters as well.
Posted: April 5, 2009 3:52 AM
Tom
The rate at which we get our information is so incredibly fast, how can we sort it all? How can we stay focused on thing at a time? Your driving, checking emails, getting texts and emails, listening the radio while your spouse is talking to you, with the kids crying in the backseat and all you want to do is tweet?!
Sometimes you've just got to get away. Clear your mind, any emergencies that come up won't really be emergencies when you return.
Sure this problem that technology created for us can be solved by more technology (more filters etc) but getting back to basics is key--your best ideas come with a pen and a paper.
Posted: April 5, 2009 5:48 AM
I'm 33, have been on the internet since '94, love friendfeed and like facebook - I have 32 browser tabs open right now - I read books on kindle on my iphone, and flip between 4 of them (when I'm ignoring the other 4 books at my bedside). I work through all of these mediums, whether the content is compelling or not -- tho honestly a lot is just let go of.
I've also been working single-mindedly on a text of new philosophy for 10 years. Barely a day has gone by that I haven't made a contribution to it, either in content or organization. It is a natural long-term-focused project for me, and it will blow you away once complete.
Most of my friends are like me... with short-term web and content focus, but also with plenty of medium- and long-term hobbies, passions, and visions.
We'll always have a shorter attention span for the content of others, and a much longer arc of patience for creations of our own. I don't think this is out of balance in any way.
Posted: April 5, 2009 9:11 AM