Renowned social psychologist, Jonathan Haidt, author of The Anxious Generation, has recently shifted his focus. Having previously focused on the impact of technology on young people’s mental health, he now cautions that we may have been overlooking something even more foundational: attention. He admits he may have “grossly underestimated” just how much children’s ability to focus has already declined, and warns that sustained attention will be critical for both future learning, social connection and professional success.
If we are indeed raising a generation that struggles to focus, we need to ask: what is at stake, and what can we do about it, before it’s too late?
Not All Screen Time Is Equal
To tackle this issue, we first need to recognise that not all screen time is created equal. Watching a well-crafted film, for instance, can support creativity, empathy, and storytelling skills. When shared with family or friends, it can also provide a meaningful social experience. This stands in stark contrast to the short, fragmented, algorithm-driven reels that many children and adolescents consume on platforms like TikTok or YouTube – content that is often addictive, watched alone, and largely devoid of narrative depth or meaningful context.
Addiction
This addictive nature of devices and social media is key to understanding their impact on attention. Each interaction e.g. a swipe, a like, or loading the next reel, triggers a small dopamine release, the brain’s chemical signal for pleasure and reinforcement. Tristan Harris, former Google design ethicist, has likened smartphones to slot machines, citing features such as pull-to-refresh and infinite scroll that are designed to mimic gambling mechanics, keeping users hooked through unpredictable rewards. Over time, these instant gratification loops condition the brain to crave constant input, making sustained focus harder and attention more fragmented by default.
What Happens Without Attention
Attention is the foundation on which we build our ability to learn, communicate and connect with others. When a child struggles to focus, it doesn’t just disrupt traditional classroom learning – it hinders their ability to think creatively and independently, tolerate boredom, listen actively, and develop confidence. Without attention, we risk losing more than just academic or professional potential; we lose resilience, self-efficacy, emotional regulation, and the capacity for meaningful connection.
Jonathan Haidt notes that teachers, therapists, and parents have observed a noticeable rise in language delays and social challenges amongst younger children, issues that are increasingly linked to early and excessive screen exposure. As he writes in The Anxious Generation, “childhood has been rewired.” The natural foundations of healthy cognitive and social development: boredom, unsupervised play, and focused engagement, have been pushed aside by hyper-stimulation, and continuous digital input.
A 2021 report by Common Sense Media found that teens aged 13 to 18 now spend an average of 8 hours and 39 minutes per day on screens for entertainment alone – up from 6 hours and 40 minutes in 2015. If statistics continue in this vein, we will raise children who are skilled at consuming content, but struggle to think for themselves – young people who crave instant gratification and find it hard to cope with boredom, children who are increasingly anxious and disconnected, despite being constantly ‘connected’.
All Is Not Lost: How We Can Start to Reclaim Attention
The good news is that attention is a skill, and like any skill, it can be nurtured. But we need to start making conscious choices: reducing the types of screen use that fragment focus, seeking experiences that strengthen it and creating boundaries to help us. Below is a rough guide:
- Set clear tech boundaries at home
Keep phones and tablets out of bedrooms and create screen-free zones or instill new habits e.g. no phones at mealtimes, no devices for 90 minutes before bed, or no screens during family film nights. Lock boxes (like the Yondr home tray) can be helpful too; sometimes, just putting the phone physically out of sight makes a big difference. - Use tools to create digital limits
Some families are choosing minimalist or “dumb” phones to help teens stay off social media and reduce near-constant notifications. You can also set up controls and limits through tools like Google Family Link, Apple’s Screen Time settings, or specialised routers that allow scheduled downtime for devices. - Partner with schools and other parents
If they haven’t already, you can encourage your school to implement effective strategies that promote focus, such as phone-free classrooms, device pouches, or zoning systems. In the UAE, school buses are also an important topic to discuss, as this unstructured time can either foster connection or turn into another screen-dominated space. Engaging in conversations with other parents can help create a community of shared values, making it easier for kids to respect boundaries. - Prioritise offline activities that build focus
Activities such as jigsaws, card games, reading, family dinners, sports, film nights, or cooking together are great fun and also encourage patience, connection, and a break from instant gratification. - Have open conversations
Encourage an open dialogue with your child about their tech usage. Talk through any peer pressure they may be experiencing, as well as the ways they find technology useful or engaging. Help them understand your perspective and, in an age-appropriate manner, share your concerns about the potential risks and why you’re taking steps to protect them. - Model the habits you want to see
If children see adults scrolling during meals or conversations, they learn those habits too. Try carving out tech-free time for yourself, particularly once children are home from school. It might be hard at first – after all, we are not immune from the addictive algorithms ourselves – but once we learn to sit with our boredom, creativity and connection have a fighting chance to surface.
Attention is a superpower. It fuels curiosity, creativity, learning, and connection. If we protect it, we give children the space to become: curious, capable, and connected (in the real world).