In a world where access to information and entertainment is easier than ever, it seems paradoxical that boredom is on the rise. And yet, a study by researchers at the University of Toronto reveals a worrying trend: the more time we spend on our digital devices, the more bored we become.
Young people are more bored than their predecessors. A fact recognized in numerous studies and confirmed by the report “People are increasingly bored in our digital age”.
A worrying trend, since chronic boredom can harm well-being, learning and behavior. And the fault lies in particular with too much use of digital devices, in particular the smartphone. The study, published in the journal Communications Psychology, draws on data from two major surveys. The first, conducted by Weybright and colleagues, analyzed the responses of 106,784 high school students in the United States between 2008 and 2017. The results show a significant increase in boredomwith an increase of 1.14% per year from 2010. The second study examined data from 28,269 Chinese students between 2009 and 2020. The results also showed an increase in boredom, with the average score increasing by 104, 49 in 2009 to 118.75 in 2020, according to the Boredom Disposition Scale (EDE).
Researchers put forward several hypotheses to explain this increase in boredom. First of all, digital devices divide our attention. Constant notifications and the temptation to check our phones disrupt our concentration, making daily tasks less engaging. Moreover, the overabundance of information online, often fragmented and inconsistent, can reduce our sense of coherence and meaningthus increasing boredom.
Another factor is the elevation of the desired level of stimulation. Constant exposure to highly stimulating content on social media and streaming platforms can make activities less excitingless attractive. “Accumulating evidence shows that digital media use, rather than reducing boredom, causally increases it”we can read in the study. “In summary, digital media makes it more difficult to maintain concentration on daily activities and reduces the intention to stay focused, which increases boredom”. What may seem paradoxical given that Internet users often turn to their smartphones to avoid being bored.
Solutions to smartphone boredom
To combat this trend, researchers suggest several avenues. First of all, it is crucial to develop strategies to maintain attention and motivationnot only at work or school, but also during leisure time.
Then, it is important to find alternatives to digital devices to manage boredom more effectively.
Finally, it is essential to understand and adapt our desires for stimulation to avoid making daily activities unbearably boring.
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