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Paying Attention at the End of 2019
Our attention has been thoroughly captured. We have been inundated. We absorb soundbites and viral videos, sharing headlines before reading articles. Each possible competing click tempting us with extremes. We basically stay afloat through this flotsam and jetsam. It’s no wonder anxiety and depression among teens is on the rise.
Some focus on the positive news…like the teenager from Sweden who is begging the world to wake up to our collective climate disaster. That’s the positive news.
Most of us will continue clicking and absorbing. What’s the alternative? Attempting to block out the headlines might save us from low-level, day-to-day anxiety, but ignoring the problems is not likely to make them go away. YouTube is especially dangerous in its tendency to propel us headfirst down the rabbit holes of extremism/conspiracy theories. The recommendation engine is driven toward extremism because it keeps people clicking. The OMGs slide you right down into the abyss. You’ll probably feel like you need a shower when you’re done.
Addiction and Setting Limits
Psychologists discuss the importance of our own awareness in using technology. Setting limits and boundaries on our own use has become essential, but this isn’t taught well or discussed often enough in our collective conversations.
