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‘Distracted’ and the Fragmentation of Attention

Back in 2008, author Maggie Jackson warned that our obsession with digital devices could damage our ability to focus and think deeply. Fast forward to 2024 - studies prove she was right. Teens who constantly use smartphones and jump between apps struggle to pay attention for long periods. Their capability to understand complicated ideas, think creatively, and solve tricky problems has seriously declined. Jackson predicted this "I want answers now" mentality would make people impatient with having to really think things through. This mindset is now causing societal conflicts when nuanced reasoning is needed. While Jackson shed light on these disturbing trends, it remains uncertain if society can regain the concentration she advocated for.

 
 
 

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