Adolescent Attention Fragmentation

In today’s extremely connected world, adolescents are bombarded with never ending streams of notifications, messages and digital content via their smartphones. Their attention is being pulled in multiple directions at once, making it more difficult to deeply focus on a single task at-hand. This is called attention fragmentation. Because teens are constantly exposed to digital distractions, that the frontal cortex of their brain is too immature to ignore, their ability to focus on one thing at a time is weakening.

According to the author Jonathan Haidt and his book The Anxious Generation (2024), consequences of attention fragmentation could be a confused, dazed, and scatterbrained state of mind, a reduced ability to focus and a constant craving of stimulation, and even attention deficit hyper-activity disorder (ADHD). All of these consequences also come with the possibility of reduced academic performance, weaker problem-solving skills, increased stress and anxiety, and also impaired social interactions.

            There are things we can do to help adolescents regain their ability to focus. Technology is not going away, so it is important to implement digital habits that promote attention development and strength within adolescents, instead of mental deficits. Set screen boundaries with your developing kids and teenagers. Practice deep work that requires mental focus and single-tasking with your kids and teens. You can even try motivating your children and teens to engage in mindfulness activities, such as meditation and journaling, to improve their attention control and give them time away from their smartphones.

            If you are interested in more ways that you can decrease attention fragmentation within the life of your child, or even yourself, feel free to reach out to Olive Branch Counseling Associates at 708-633-8000. We offer a variety of services at our office located at 6819—167^th St. in Tinley Park, Illinois 60477 and via telehealth. We would love to help you!

Myleigh, undergrad intern, 2025

Olive Branch Counseling Associates, Inc.

Reference:

Haidt, J. (2024). The anxious generation: How the great rewiring of childhood is causing an

            epidemic of mental illness. Penguin Random House.