Is my attention span really getting shorter?
Our habits have changed, at least. Gloria Mark has measured how long people stay on one screen before switching. In 2004 it was about two and a half minutes. In recent studies it is about 47 seconds. When you switch that often, focusing for long stretches feels harder.
Do humans have a shorter attention span than a goldfish?
No. The claim that people have an 8-second attention span, shorter than a goldfish, spread widely but has no solid scientific source. Attention is not a single number. It depends on the task, your interest and your environment.
Why do apps make focus harder?
Many apps use unpredictable rewards: you never know whether the next post will be great, so you keep checking. Our minds also wander a lot on their own, almost half the time in one large study (Killingsworth and Gilbert, 2010). Constant pings give a wandering mind somewhere to go.
How do you improve your attention span?
1. Practice single-tasking. Do one thing for a set time, starting with 15 to 25 minutes.
2. Reduce switching cues. Silence non-urgent notifications and close extra tabs.
3. Train on purpose. Short games that need full attention give you a quick, measurable focus workout.
4. Get enough sleep. Tired brains wander more.