Digital and Distraction

Matt Richtel in 2010 wrote in the New York Times' "Growing Up Digital, Wired for Distraction":
"Researchers say the lure of these technologies, while it affects adults too, is particularly powerful for young people. The risk, they say, is that developing brains can become more easily habituated than adult brains to constantly switching tasks — and less able to sustain attention."
Along a similar line, the Joan Ganz Cooney Center published a report in Spring 2012, "Print Books vs. E-books", in which the following figures summarizing its findings were presented:

Image captured from Print Books vs. E-books


Image captured from Print Books vs. E-books

Digital delivery of knowledge runs the risk of adding non-content related items to boost engagement to the point that readers are unable to focus on what needs to be learned. These additional spices may also train young minds to develop a superficial way of deciding which presentations are worth attention or not.







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