A study titled Accelerated Dynamics of Collective Attention in Nature Communications shows a decrease in people’s attention span over time. The researchers pointed out how a hashtag could stay relevant for an average of 17.5 hours in 2013 but only 11.9 hours in 2016.
The study conducted at the Technical University of Denmark shows that people have a growing need for trends, information, and entertainment. While the average person could stay interested in a 10-30 minute video, they can’t even watch one for a few minutes now. They would become impatient even though they found the content interesting.
Such studies that show a general decrease in attention span have led many people to question if they should stop using apps like TikTok. The app has become popular since the pandemic as people sought ways to keep themselves entertained. However, researchers have linked the app’s short videos to a decrease in attention span. People who use the app for more than 90 minutes could lower their attention span with time.
Many people are drawn to TikTok because it can have entertaining and sometimes even educative videos. For instance, Thea Gallagher recently wrote an article on how helpful it is to discuss mental health issues on TikTok as it raises awareness. When more people learn about mental health through social media sites, it eliminates the stigma of discussing their mental health challenges.
Despite this, Dr. Gallagher warns people to be careful with the information they consume on social media. They should be even more careful when advising or listening to advise, as misinformation could lead to harmful consequences.
Moreover, Dr. Gallagher adds that people should avoid using TikTok as a form of therapy. They should instead visit a mental health expert for assistance. People should also research treatment options they hear about on the app before they try them out.
Nevertheless, Dr. David J. Puder states that most videos on TikTok that discuss mental health are positive. They show people’s interest in understanding science and the mind, which reduces the stigma attached to mental health.