goldfish illustration. – WIDMANN / TPH / SIPA

20 Minutes to agency

If they have a good memory, goldfish would be more concentrated than a human. Indeed, human concentration capacity increased in ten years from 12 to 8 seconds on average against nine seconds for the animal, according to a recent Microsoft study. In question, the omnipresence of screens (TVs, computers, tablets …) and other smartphones that attract our attention and permanently alter our concentration ability

A quick sorting of information

To measure the effects, researchers interviewed nearly 2,000 Canadians about their practices in new technologies. They also studied electroencephalograms 112 volunteers

. Result: the human being is hungry for information. Thus, sorting, we move more quickly from one to another for information only focus on a subject that interests us, resulting in decreased concentration.



Young people are most affected by the phenomenon

In terms of numbers, the study highlights 44% of Canadians are struggling to stay focused at work or at school. Worse, 45% of them, often in the clouds, are easily distracted. Most affected by this lack of concentration are the youngest, biggest consumers of social networks. Thus, 77% of Canadians aged 18 to 24 say they watch their smartphones when they are not busy. Of these, almost one in two said check their smartphone every 30 minutes.

The only good news, overconsumption of screens would develop new skills, including the knowledge to multitask time.