Claim: Tiktok is making attention spans shorter

Question

https://www.arcurrent.com/opinion/2022/03/25/tiktok-is-shrinking-our-attention-span-with-every-swipe/

I find that when sitting down to do homework or something, my attention span runs out much quicker than it used to. I'm interested in seeing if apps like TikTok and the maximum length of videos being 1-3 minutes has trained people who use this app frequently to lose interest in things longer than that amount of time. There seems to be a little bit of back and forth about whether more people are getting diagnosed with ADHD now than before or if apps like TikTok is the issue.

Comments

@cocopeachhh @amtapia1 nice work on your fact-checks. You've included an explanation and source links. Don't forget to add a rating, such as "true, not misinformation." For more information on ratings, please see the sidebar of this page.

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I do think that TikTok has an effect on people's attention span, however it is not as dire or drastic as we think. Personally, I do not have the app, but I find myself browsing other social media sites more than I should. Most grown adults are not on the app as much as young adults and kids. This may be due to lack of discipline.
I included an article that explains more: https://www.sciencetimes.com/articles/34138/20211025/tiktok-bad-brain-constant-social-media-streaming-narrows-collective-attention.htm

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@Jrud future fact-checks, please use the "answer" button rather than "comment" on a claim so that your fact-checks can be upvoted and be chosen as the best answer. Good job providing an explanation and details as well as a source link. Don't forget to add a rating next time.

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I get what you're saying—it's like we’re getting used to content that's bite-sized, so longer tasks, like homework, feel way harder to focus on. TikTok and similar apps train us to expect constant quick rewards, which might make focusing on anything that requires more time seem dull by comparison. There’s debate about whether this is leading to more ADHD diagnoses or if it's just that ADHD is being more widely recognized.

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I think that the article is mostly correct however the information is travelling through a game of telephone. What I mean by this is that the article is citing an article from "The Science Times" and they are citing most of their information from an article in "The Independent" who cites an actual study that has been done. The research is reliable but most of what the article is saying is information that doesn't come in a reliable way. Instead of citing studies they are citing non-peer reviewed articles.

Answer 1

This article claims that tiktok is effectively shortening the attention span of its users. It states, “...I’ve noticed my own attention span decreasing. I used to be able to watch YouTube videos or shows that were 30 minutes long but now I find myself losing interest in those same videos or shows very quickly. ”, using “I” statements can raise some concerns as they often appeal to feelings over facts. It quotes three sources, but not all of the quotes support the claim. Although they are related and relevant. 

Referenced below: TikTok is Bad For Your Brain: Constant Social Media Streaming Narrows Collective Attention Span, Adversely Affects Mental Health

There are also some problems with the sites cited.“With every swipe on TikTok we see our attention span decrease. According to a 2021 article by The Science Times, those who use the app for over 90 minutes a day can narrow their collective attention span over time.” The article that was quoted has relevant information, but the first sentence is a hyperbole. It is also quoting a quote within an article. Within that article, it references another article which is a broken link. This is not looking good. To recap, the statistic that claims, “ those who use the app for over 90 minutes a day can narrow their collective attention span over time” cannot be traced back to its original source. It is also an extremely broad claim.

TikTok Brain: Can We Save Children’s Attention Spans? – Richmond Journal of Law and Technology

Although the article is lacking and unstable, the overall claim of the article is factually backed up by the Richmond Journal of Law and Technology (a .edu site), “Many experts believe TikTok and social media platforms like it are killing children’s attention spans.[21]  This decreased attention span has been (not so affectionately) referred to as “TikTok Brain.”[22]  Emerging research suggests that watching short-form videos make it difficult for children to engage in activities that don’t offer instant—and constant—gratification.[23]  The constant hits of dopamine, the neurotransmitter that gets released when the brain is expecting a reward, reinforces use of apps like TikTok.[24]  Pediatricians have described TikTok as a “dopamine machine.”

Overall the claim is backed up by other research, but the article itself is flawed. Its citations are weak and it leans too heavily on “I” statements and emotional appeal.

Answer 2

While there is evidence that does suggest that TikTok’s content can contribute to shortened attention spans, there is no actual scientific proof that TikTok permanently damages attention spans. Science Times talks about how the rapid and high stimulation filled content trains the brain to become less engaging. 

https://www.arcurrent.com/opinion/2022/03/25/tiktok-is-shrinking-our-attention-span-with-every-swipe/

https://www.sciencetimes.com/articles/34138/20211025/tiktok-bad-brain-constant-social-media-streaming-narrows-collective-attention.htm

Answer 3

Even without doing any research, I could tell you that this claim is true. I find that when I do small tasks such as homework or cleaning, I lose interest very quickly. When I lose interest, I tend to go on TikTok and spend multiple hours watching one to three minute long videos. It has made me more impatient as well. After doing research,  It has come to my attention that across the Internet, this claim is true whether that be through personal opinions or proven true by researcher. A Microsoft study found that “people who use TikTok for 20 minutes already have experienced a significant decrease in their attention span and working memory.”  I believe that TikTok along with other forms of social media have a negative impact on our brain and body. 

Answer 4

The article published by "The American River"---'TikTok is shrinking our attention span with every swipe' makes a lot of statements about TikTok shortening attention spans because of its short videos, often leading users to lose interest in longer activities which is the design of the app in itself. It cites a 2021 article by 'The Science Times' which 'claims' that staying on TikTok for 90 minutes on average daily can lead to reduced attention span. However, both of these articles don't provide any credible, authoritative studies that justify their statements. Even so, there is some truth to TikTok or social media apps such as TikTok leading to a shorter attention span, because these short videos provide a charge of dopamine which on the other hand leads viewers to get bored or distracted much faster. The author uses personal pronouns such as 'I' to indicate his anecdotes and experiences to justify certain statements that don't generalize the issue. While studies suggest that constant exposure to quick, fast-paced content like TikTok may impact cognitive engagement, it isn't definitive in this article. The body of this article is formed as an opinion rather than a fact. Research on social media's effects on attention span is ongoing, but there is evidence that habits formed by rapid content consumption could make focusing on larger tasks more challenging. I do believe that attention spans are shortening since I deal with it, but I believe that other factors related to technology consumption patterns need to be delved into further to create a straightforward link. One such study by National Library of Science investigates the role of attention in learning in the digital age. (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6430174/)

(https://www.researchgate.net/publication/387697885_THE_IMPACT_OF_TIKTOK'S_FAST-PACED_CONTENT_ON_ATTENTION_SPAN_OF_STUDENTS#:~:text=Key%20findings%20from%20existing%20research,during%20tasks%20requiring%20prolonged%20concentration.)