My screen time average last week was 9 hours and 19 minutes. To those who rarely use their phones, this figure might be jarring, but to those of us who are avid social media users, this is typical. Who is the main culprit of my screen time, you might ask? TikTok.
At first, I was super critical of the app because I thought it only consisted of people dancing, but my For You page now is uniquely curated with memes, baby videos, skincare advice, music recommendations –– the list goes on. Growing up in the age of the Internet has already limited my generation’s attention span, but having access to a variety of one-minute videos in one app has seriously hindered my ability to focus on day-to-day tasks.
With TikTok, you have the power to decide what you want to watch. If the video doesn’t capture your attention, you can just scroll to the next. Dr. Julie Albright, a USC professor and author of “Left To Their Own Devices: How Digital Natives Are Reshaping the American Dream,” said we “keep scrolling because sometimes you see something you like, and sometimes you don’t. And that differentiation — very similar to a slot machine in Vegas — is key.” Essentially, the dopamine released when we’re on platforms like TikTok, Instagram, or Twitter is addictive and similar to that of gambling. “In psychological terms [it’s] called random reinforcement,” according to Albright.
Regarding lowered attention spans, I recognized the effects of TikTok in real-time with the emergence of more and more accounts that post-movie highlights. I was never the biggest film buff; I couldn’t justify paying attention for a prolonged period of time. When I saw users that were posting summaries of movies I’ve been meaning to watch, I thought I hit the jackpot. I could condense 2 hours into 2 minutes, and who doesn’t like shortcuts? However, despite the potential for a basic understanding of what happens in these films, I won’t be able to distinguish the aesthetics or overarching themes compared to someone who watched them in their entirety.
Paying attention is increasingly challenging for many since school has gone online. Add that to a lowered attention span that people of our generation all possess, and we’ve got a huge problem. Albright mentions “Our brains are changing based on this interaction with digital technologies and one of these is time compression… Our attention spans are lowering.” The younger we are exposed to new technologies, the more malleable our brains are.
When I do readings for classes and can’t seem to find the main idea right away, I get frustrated and hopeless. Or, if I’m watching a lecture and can’t grasp a certain concept, I tune out for the rest of the lesson. Even in my everyday life, paying attention to long conversations I have with family and friends can be challenging. I found myself fidgeting to find a quick answer for school assignments, to receive my food as soon as possible, and inadvertently developed less patience.
So, what can we do? I don’t have the answer, but what I do know is that, as consumers of media, we have a responsibility to take a step back once in a while and stay in touch with reality. Whether it be through taking a walk outside, playing with your pet, or listening to music, it’s important to take a healthy break from TikTok and the fast-paced world of social media.
