Every minute, millions of videos are uploaded and shared across social media platforms. TikTok sees 16,000 new videos, Instagram and Facebook generate 138.9 million reel views, and YouTube garners over 3 million views globally, according to a 2024 report by business intelligence firm Domo.
For years, Domo has been releasing its annual “Data Never Sleeps” report, which tracks the vast amount of data created each minute. This increasing data consumption mirrors the growing online population, but it raises an important question: Are we consuming too much content?
Psychologist Gloria Mark, a professor at the University of California, Irvine, believes the answer is yes. She warns that constantly processing information overwhelms our minds, draining our cognitive resources and leaving us fatigued.
“Executive function,” the part of the brain responsible for decision-making, focus, and filtering out distractions, suffers when we’re mentally exhausted. As Mark explains, once this function is compromised, it becomes difficult to stay on task and make decisions.
The Nature of Content: Quality vs. Quantity
Content, in its many forms—from social media videos to books—is something we’ve always created and shared. But Mark points out that what’s different today is the constant availability of content, accessible anytime and anywhere.
She divides content into two categories:
- Short-form vs. long-form: Refers to the length of the content.
- Deep vs. shallow: Refers to the level of thought and engagement required.
Today, people largely consume short-form, shallow content, especially through social media. These quick-hit videos are often designed to evoke basic emotions like surprise, humor, or anger, keeping us on a superficial level of engagement. Unlike books or long-form articles, which encourage deeper thought, these short bursts of content leave little room for mental processing.
While a few minutes of mindless scrolling isn’t harmful, Mark says the problem arises when we can’t break the habit. Research from Mark shows that our attention span has drastically dropped over the years—from two and a half minutes in 2004 to just 47 seconds in 2016. This aligns closely with the typical length of a social media video.
The Impact on Attention and Reading Habits
Mark notes that overconsumption of short-form content makes it harder to engage with longer, more complex material. Many people report struggling to focus on books or long-form articles due to the habits formed by constant social media use.
To regain control, Mark suggests a few strategies:
- Schedule reading time: Set aside moments each day to read longer, thought-provoking content.
- Avoid distractions: Choose physical books or articles to avoid the temptation of checking your phone.
- Engage in other activities: Instead of reaching for your phone during free moments, try talking to others or going for a walk.
Maria Paula Colmenares, a 22-year-old fashion student from Italy, offers a personal example of how one can regain control over their media consumption. After realizing the emptiness of endless scrolling, she limited her social media time and turned to more meaningful activities like listening to podcasts, reading books, and subscribing to newsletters aligned with her interests.
Colmenares, who shares her experiences on TikTok, explains how cutting down on mindless scrolling helped her find more clarity and focus. “Starting is always the hardest part,” she says, “but once you start, it gets easier.”
In a world saturated with content, Colmenares has found a way to slow down and reclaim her attention. By setting aside time for deep, meaningful engagement, she’s been able to reconnect with herself and others in a more mindful way.
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