Thanks, Dale! Glad you enjoyed it. Actually, there is evidence that attention spans are shortening.
You say we have more distractions and this is true, but what’s key is the neurochemical effects of these distractions. This is what has contributed to the widespread drop in attention spans. It’s a complex subject and a term like “attention span” doesn’t really do justice to the neurochemistry (which we still don’t entirely understand). To put it simply, social media completely changed how emerging generations consume information. Being able to swipe through endless streams of content pursuing that ever-receding “dopamine hit” means people are less likely to seek delayed gratification (more easily appreciated prior to the digital age). This, as the above article points out, has resulted in the shortening of attention spans.
