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Steven, from the Omni Calculator Project team, agrees that our attention spans appear to be getting shorter with the advent of platforms like Twitter and TikTok, as well as newsfeeds.
"If you feel you are time-pressured, it’s probably only natural that you don’t want to invest a chunk of time on one article but instead scan the headlines to get lots of little bits of information. I have certainly noticed myself being less likely to read a long article unless it’s something that genuinely interests me," he explained that our natural interests, as well as our desire to save our time and energy limit how much attention we give to each and every bit of news we come across. Unfortunately, this means that some of us tend to stay at a superficial level.
"The negative impact is that we won’t reach a deeper level of understanding of something and end up missing out. This is ironic, as people today rush around trying not to miss out on things," Steven explained.
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The expert also gave Bored Panda his take on how to avoid getting stuck in a stagnant mindset, as though we already know absolutely everything.
"It’s essential to have a growth mindset and realize that you probably know very little. We can only gain more profound knowledge of the world by investing time in exploring it. This issue goes back to short attention spans, which gives us a broad, but shallow spread of knowledge. Take the time to read a book on a subject, and you are bound to learn more," he suggested that we find the patience to delve deeper into a subject.
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However fun the internet might be, we should still be aware that some information out there is spread to bamboozle us. An expert told Bored Panda just last week about the red flags each and every one of us should watch out for.
"Red flags to watch out for that a claim may be fake: it's outlandish, it's too good to be true, you haven't seen the claim anywhere else, you've never heard the source, the source isn't reputable, you can't find two other sources making the same claim, your gut tells you, ‘this can't be true,'" Mike Sington, an entertainment, pop culture, and lifestyle expert from Los Angeles, who knows how social and traditional media works, explained to me earlier.
He told Bored Panda that the reliability of information has suffered because of how popular social media has become. "The rise of social media has decreased the reliability of information because misinformation can spread so quickly before it can be corrected," he said.
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According to the expert, one simple way to double-check the reliability of a source, fact, or news story is to start off with a simple Google search. If you can’t find any additional sourcing or evidence, remain skeptical.
"Do this and think before reposting or you may be contributing to the problem. Amplification doesn’t make a claim true or accurate," he said.
The sources that the expert trusts the most include Associated Press, Reuters, and The New York Times. "They employ fact-checkers and editors that ensure the information they post is correct. They’re basically doing the research and homework for you. There are literally too many online sources to list that can’t be trusted and should be avoided. Anyone can basically post anything they want… proceed with caution," the expert warned.
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"Our attention spans have been reduced to mere seconds at a time because that’s the way information and entertainment is fed to us now. People get tiny bite-sized bits of news by scrolling a Twitter feed, they entertain themselves by scrolling quickly through Instagram and TikTok. It’s creating a habit that doesn’t have to be," Mike warned that we’re being changed by what we consume.
"The good news is there’s plenty of long-form entertainment and news available, you just have to seek it out. I believe the benefit is worth it. I’ve discovered it improves your ability to focus, it’s more calming, you retain more information, and it gives you a more balanced and nuanced view of the world.”
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