Multitasking: Unhealthy To Teens And Students

Furthermore, media multitasking is unhealthy to teens and students because it causes low productivity level when performing tasks. Some people believe that multitasking will enable them to accomplish things efficiently. When in reality, multitasking has the total opposite effect which has been proven over and over again by professionals. Watkins states, “doing several things at once actually reduces task efficiency and proficiency. There is growing evidence that multitasking may not only slow down the completion of tasks but may also impair our performance” (Watkins 399). Each time people shift back and forth from one task to another, it takes the brain time to refocus on the present task. It might seem efficient in plain sight, when after all it

However, multitasking does not exist. People cannot simply talk on the phone, watch YouTube videos, send an instant message, and read an e-mail at the same time. Watkins states, “When we talk about multitasking, we are really talking about attention the art paying attention, the ability to shift our attention” (Watkins 401). This quote means that students and teens are not really multitasking, they are just shifting their attention to a different task in a rapid motion. That transition is neither smooth or fast. The brain takes time to focus on the initial task and get back on track. Students will most likely perform on a high level if they did not shift their attention from one thing to another because they are allowing their brain to focus on one activity. Rather than become more productive when faced with multiple tasks, people are less likely to complete tasks successfully. Productivity is available to everyone; however it comes with doing one thing at a time. Finally, The illusion of multitasking only comes with motion and time that people’s brain