Social Media Is Shortening Teens Attention Span

Attention span. In 2000, the average attention span was twelve seconds. Now, in 2016, the average attention span is six seconds. Six seconds is shorter than the attention span of a goldfish. Teens attention span has been getting shorter and shorter ever since social media has become a big part of their lives. Although social media keeps us in touch with the outside world, some fear that social media is shortening teens’ attention span.

To start, teens’ attention spans are getting shorter and shorter because, teens can not think for a long period of time. Social media in general is shortening teens’ attention span. “The results showed the average human attention span has fallen from twelve seconds in 2000, or around the time the mobile revolution began, to eight seconds” (Watson). This quote shoes that social media is shortening

Now in 2016, where social media is everywhere, humans’ attention span is eight seconds. Also social media has introduced the Fear of Missing Out (FOMO). “Fear of Missing Out is important on social media. There is a constant need to check our social networks in case a friend posts something that we cannot miss” (Litsa). This quote shows that social media is shortening teens’ attention span because you are always wanting to check you phone; therefore, you are going from your homework right to your phone when it goes off. In addition to FOMO, social media has increased procrastination. “It’s so easy to start clicking all over the Internet, even forgetting the reason you first browsed a site. Facebook, YouTube, and Pinterest are probably the reasons you