Generation Z’s attention span — wait, what was I saying again?
Members of Gen Z are often described as having short attention spans, and I see that stereotype play out in my daily life.
As a member of Gen Z, I struggle daily to focus on tasks, complete homework and even listen during conversations. My attention span is so short that sometimes I wish Minecraft parkour videos were constantly playing in the background. I often eat and do homework with a video playing, but that leads to distraction instead of productivity.
As I spend more time online, I have noticed my attention span getting worse. When I was younger, I could sit through an entire movie, but now I can barely finish one without grabbing my phone to check notifications. Even when I try to focus, the urge to multitask is hard to ignore.
TikTok plays a major role in this shift. Short videos have changed how I consume information. Instead of watching a 10-minute tutorial, I would rather watch a condensed version that gives me the same information in seconds. While this makes learning faster and more convenient, it also makes longer content feel harder to sit through.
Gen Z grew up during the social media boom. We were learning how to use these platforms while they were still evolving, which shaped how quickly we expect to receive information and entertainment. Instant access to everything has become normal.
Some studies say Gen Z’s attention span is eight seconds long — shorter than the average TikTok post. This generation relies heavily on smartphones. We use our phones daily to engage with friends through Snapchat streaks or we are on ChatGPT looking for a quick answer. Rather than long-term happiness, Gen Z craves the quick dopamine hits. The comments and likes we get on social media give us the instant gratification we crave.
I love looking at all my comments and likes on my social media stories. It reassures me when I see all my friends liking my post.
Not only do I love likes, I love doomscrolling. I am a victim of scrolling on TikTok for hours. Honestly, I get embarrassed looking at my screen time because of how much time in a day I spend on social media.
We are the iPad Kids — not Generation Alpha. We wake up and immediately check our phones, and we end the day scrolling. Our phones have become part of how we eat, sleep and communicate.
In classrooms, we sometimes avoid eye contact and text friends across the room instead of talking face-to-face. In many ways, we are becoming a more disconnected generation.
We are becoming an anti-social generation. I am guilty of this, as much as I love talking to people, I get a little intimidated to talk to new people and go out of my way to start a conversation.
Social media may also be affecting academic performance. Studies show that Gen Z is the first generation to score lower on some standardized tests than generations before it. As a generation, we are underperforming in basic cognitive skills due to our increased screen time.
Still, Gen Z continues to challenge stereotypes. BookTok — a TikTok community focused on reading — has helped increase book sales by 30% and encouraged young people to read more.
Even though we spend so much time online, Gen Z also values in-person shopping experiences. Many young consumers prefer visiting bookstores and supporting local businesses. I am a person who needs to physically touch and see all the products I am buying.
Gen Z may struggle with attention, but that does not mean we cannot adapt. Learning to put our phones down, focus on one task at a time and become comfortable with quiet moments may help us rebuild the attention span we feel we are losing.
