How AI and Digital Technologies Are Eroding Our Attention

Research conducted by Professor Gloria Mark at the University of California demonstrates that digital devices and online platforms are fundamentally altering how we process information. In the early 2000s, the average duration of focus on a single task was around 2.5 minutes. By 2012, this had dropped to 75 seconds, and by 2020, it had further declined to just 47 seconds.

Frequent shifts in attention not only reduce work efficiency but also elevate stress levels. Participants in experiments who wore heart rate monitors showed a direct correlation between the frequency of focus shifts and increased physiological stress. This issue is particularly acute for users of chatbots and social media, where information streams update every second.

The problem extends beyond adults. Lawsuits against Meta* and YouTube, filed by school districts and individuals, allege that these platforms deliberately create addictive mechanisms that harm children's mental health. In one case, a company agreed to a multi-million-dollar settlement for damages caused by childhood addiction to its platform.

Experts warn that if this trend continues, the consequences for cognitive functions and societal well-being could become irreversible. Regaining control over our attention is emerging as one of the defining challenges of the digital age.