It may come as no surprise to learn that the human attention span has drastically lessened from the year 2000.
Conducted by Microsoft in 2013, the study involved more than 2,000 people and found that the average human attention span has dipped to 8 seconds – down from the 12 second span recorded in 2000. In case you’re wondering, a goldfish has an attention span of 9 seconds.
“We are moving from a world where computing power was scarce to a place where it now is almost limitless, and where the true scarce commodity is increasingly human attention” – Satya Nadella.
But how else might addiction to technology be impacting the intelligence and ability of our race to truly connect?
Many people carry an electronic device on their person throughout the day, and even when they are sleeping are surrounded by electromagnetic waves (EMFs) in the form of wi-fi, plugged in
appliances, and city life (if they live in an urban environment). This has been shown to disrupt the natural bioelectric field of the human body, and possibly contribute to a list of modern-day ailments.
Neurosurgeon Jack Kruse talks extensively about the damage EMF exposure can have on the body, and it is important to note that it may be a contributing factor to what is lessening the human species’ ability to focus.
Quite simply, we live in an age of instant gratification. Have a question? Google it. Want something? Amazon it. Desire to communicate with someone? Text them.
Are the days of true communication and contemplative reflection gone? Not if you decide to make focus a priority in your life. Tune out for a minimum of 15-30 minutes per day and focus on your breathe, nature, or the pervasive silence which states nothing but says everything.
What are your thoughts on this finding? Share in the comments section below.
