Are AI chatbots making us lose control of our brains? According to psychologist Gloria Mark, they might. After decades of studying how people interact with technology, she’s found that attention spans have shrunk from two and a half minutes in the early 2000s to just 47 seconds by 2020.
Mark is worried this isn't just annoying—it's stressful. Frequent switching of focus has been linked with increased stress levels, making it harder for us to get stuff done. It’s not great for our performance or emotional well-being either, and that goes double if you’re young.
The good news? Social media can still provide opportunities for connection, especially for marginalized groups looking to form friendships online. But overall, the evidence on its impact on children is inconclusive.
Mark believes we need to change our relationship with these technologies to prevent further decline in cognitive abilities and emotional intelligence. We should not just delegate tasks to AI; rather, use them as tools while still engaging deeply ourselves.
