Are our attention spans really shrinking?
Are our attention spans really shrinking?
It’s a common belief that people who spend a lot of time on social media have decreased attention spans.
I don’t believe it, and I’ll share why…
People binge 6-hour Dan Carlin history podcast episodes like it’s their job.
Folks devour entire seasons of TV shows in one weekend.
But a 30-second Instagram Reel is considered too long?
I believe the conversation shouldn’t be about attention spans. It’s about environment.
Social media platforms are like digital casinos.
They’re strategically designed to pull your attention in 80,000 different directions at once.
Blaming social media for a short attention span is like blaming a buffet for not giving you a single meal.
It’s not designed for long deep dives. It’s designed for quick hits of dopamine.
Our minds adapt to the environment we’re in.
Social media wants to present us novel ideas that keep us on the app longer so they get more ad revenue.
That’s not your attention spans fault.
Social media is great for:
- Teasing longer content
- Sharing bite-sized wisdom
- Building relationships
- Showing your personality
If you are frustrated with the lack of depth social media provides, it’s not social media’s fault. It’s just the wrong tool for the job.
Lead your audience to platforms designed for deeper engagement: your blog, your email list, your podcast, or even gasp face-to-face conversations.
Social media is the appetizer, not the main course.
-Dylan
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