Canadians have shorter attention span than goldfish, Microsoft says

By Nadine Kalinauskas | Daily Buzz  YAHOO–

Ever wonder if that device that never leaves your hand is taking a toll on your attention span? 54-page Microsoft study that looked at surveys of more than 2,000 Canadians — and monitored 112 people’s brain activity — says it is. In fact, we now have shorter attention spans than goldfish, a fact researchers believe can be linked to our inability to put down our smartphones and other portable devices. A study in 2000 revealed that Canadians had 12-second attention spans, on average. That number has now dropped to 8 seconds, an entire second shorter than that of goldfish. “Canadians with more digital lifestyles (those who consume more media, are multi-screeners, social media enthusiasts, or earlier adopters of technology) struggle to focus in environments where prolonged attention is needed,” reads the study. The study found a number of concerning statistics and “addiction-like behaviours” from the always-connected respondents: 44 per cent of respondents claimed they had to concentrate really hard to stay focused on tasks, 37 per cent said they were unable to make the best use of their time (often leading to working late in the evenings and on weekends), 77 per cent of respondents admitted to reaching for their phones when they feel bored, and 79 per cent reported using portable devices even when watching TV. (more)