How To Build Back Your Attention Span in the Attention Economy

Here’s a thought experiment: if the technologies that define our era today were around in the past, would Shakespeare still have written plays like Macbeth?

There is the age-old myth that the discovery of gravity was the byproduct of Sir Isaac Newton being struck in the head by an apple while sitting under a tree. I wonder if today, instead of sitting outdoors under that tree, Newton would be endlessly doomscrolling through TikTok videos instead. Would Shakespeare be writing tweets instead of Macbeth? 

“In an information-rich world, the wealth of information means a dearth of something else: a scarcity of whatever it is that information consumes. What information consumes is rather obvious: it consumes the attention of its recipients. Hence, a wealth of information creates a poverty of attention,” wrote Nobel Prize winner Herbert Alexander Simon, an American political scientist, in the 1970s. This is precisely the case today.

According to a 2015 study by Microsoft, with 2,000 participants, the average human attention span has declined to a staggering eight seconds compared to just 12 prior. This phenomenon is called the attention economy, with social media algorithms intrinsically designed to capitalize off our attention. Millions of dollars are spent by tech elites to keep you constantly engaged on their devices, to view Instagram story after Instagram story, to scroll through reel after reel.

Natasha Schüll’s research; a professor in the department of Media, Culture, and Communication at New York University, suggests that social media platforms are utilizing the same techniques that casinos employ to keep their clients gambling. Tristan Harris, Google’s former design ethicist, likens the “pull-to-refresh and infinite scrolling mechanism” of apps like Instagram to a slot machine.

Despite having an unprecedented encyclopedia of knowledge at our fingertips, our endless exposure to dopamine is overstimulating our brains, hindering our ability to be attentive. New data states that youth’s usage of tech has skyrocketed to at least 7 hours per day and reading rates are at an all-time low, correlated to our excessive screen time. 

It’s not all doom and gloom, though. Put simply, my philosophy is simple: alcohol is not intrinsically bad, but alcoholism certainly is. The same goes for social media. Moderation is a virtue and it extends beyond booze. Here are some tips on how to declutter your digital life.

Instead of mindlessly scrolling through your feed, mindfully scroll. Consciously use social media for productive purposes. With an intent at the forefront of your mind, social media can be used as a tool to cultivate your personal hobbies and perhaps to learn something new. 

Just like purging your closet of old clothes, delete the apps that aren’t a necessity. Instagram, if you’re an artist for example, can be an excellent way to connect with fellow creatives and gain inspiration. But only if you consciously use it for those reasons. One of the ways to achieve this digital intentionality is by curating your feed and tailoring it to suit your goals. When you see a mindless, irrelevant post, simply click ‘I don’t want to see posts like this’ and the algorithm will gradually begin showing you content relevant to your interests. 

Another suggestion would be to impose limits on the apps you use. If you have an iPhone, there’s a Screen Time feature where you can actually add daily time limits to specific apps.

By implementing this advice, you’re able to be more mindful of your online consumption. You don’t have to be a luddite and abstain from social media entirely. Instead, reduce your usage and only use social media platforms wisely.

If time limits on apps aren’t your cup of tea and you still end up getting distracted, consider deleting social media from your phone and using it exclusively on your laptop. The web versions oftentimes function differently as opposed to mobile versions, without some of the more addictive features.

Our brains also require solitude in order to recharge. Solitude entails a period of time detached from external stimuli. Your eyes glaring at a screen and headphones blaring music in your ears are not good for your mental health in excess. Studies have shown that a simple nature walk can drastically alter the state of our mental health for the better. "It is not clear exactly why outdoor excursions have such a positive mental effect. Yet, in a study from five years ago, researchers compared the brain activity of healthy people after they walked for ninety minutes in either a natural setting or an urban one. They found that those who did a nature walk had lower activity in the prefrontal cortex, a brain region that is active during rumination... defined as repetitive thoughts that focus on negative emotions," writes Harvard University researchers.

If possible, go for a daily phone-free stroll in the park. I see it constantly with the elderly. My grandma, over 80 years old, designates an hour to sitting by herself on the porch outside and just gazes about her surroundings, lost in thought. We all need a detox for our wellbeing and to reclaim our attention—a screen-free walk around the block, even if it’s for a mere five minutes per day. You can still create your magnum opus —write your Macbeth, and have your gravity-discovering moment—if you use tech with more purpose.

Photos: Jahna Bird. Model: Vanessa Benitz. Styling: Zaneta Ambassa. Wardrobe: Label 13, Shop Greer Sydney Greer