The search continues for the best solution to avoid technology distraction across all ages, but the truth is it is inevitable. From the very beginning of digital entertainment, screens have captured the minds of individuals — pulling them away from humans and toward the bright lights, locking them into a world that is distracting and sometimes heartless. In my opinion, we have lost the interest of learning due to the addiction of constant entertainment from the screens in front of us.
Growing up, I remember the sudden rise of technology when my dad stopped using his BlackBerry flip phone and switched to an iPhone. The change happened so fast that it was hard to notice. Computers and technology change our lives so quickly, and we are forced to evolve with the change, which when left unchecked can have negative effects on our minds according to the Harvard Medical School.
In the world today, there are countless ways for humans to quickly shift their attention to something else. Recently, I have noticed when sitting in a less-than-exciting lecture, the majority ofstudents in the class will stare at their phones as a distraction from what they are learning. This distraction has a major effect on our learning and communication.
Gloria Mark, a chancellor’s professor of informatics at the University of California, Irvine, stated in a podcast interview that the faster our attention is switched, the more stress rises in our bodies.
“We know from decades of research in the laboratory that when people multitask, they experience stress, blood pressure rises,” Mark said.
As a college student, I have noticed the constant need for a dopamine boost among my fellow students during lectures and class discussions. Our computers are causing us to lose attentiveness to the instructor and our classmates.
Human interaction is essential in our lives to communicate effectively and to create meaningful relationships. As a digital media and journalism major at Liberty University, it is part of my curriculum to interview and communicate with people on deadlines, assignments and stories.
When I put my phone away — whether in class or at work —I feel relaxed and aware of what I am learning in the classroom or newsroom environment. My phone and social media do not compare to the value of real-world information and facts gained from organic communication with other writers and trained professors.
An article by Swiss German University argues that the decline of attention span in humans is not caused by the accidental use of technology, but failure in how it is made and used. In the article, a research study conducted in 2004 by Mark said that an individual’s average attention span on a digital device was approximately 150 seconds long. The same study showed that in 2024, the number was significantly lower at 47 seconds.
I fully believe that if smartphones today were only used for texting and calling, we would not have such a rapid decline of attention. A practical way that students can survive the withdrawal of putting their phone down during class is by simply handwriting their notes.
This simple but effective tip keeps the mind busy, creating mental and physical activity when writing with a paper and pen. I have noticed that when I am handwriting my notes, I am more focused on the lecture and actively learning at the same time.
While there are many positives to social media and the web, there comes a breaking point. So the next time you find yourself bored in a lecture, I highly encourage you to put down your phone and open your mind to the opportunity of learning.
Senes is the opinion editor for the Liberty Champion.