“Endless Mind-Numbing Slop”: A Qualitative Analysis of the Perceived Impact of Digital Technology on Attention

There is widespread concern that digital technology use is damaging attention spans. However, this concern contrasts with empirical research on this issue, which report mixed findings on whether there is an impact. Thus, we aimed to detail the perceived impact of digital technology on attention. We conducted a reflexive thematic analysis of posts and comments from four subreddits (/r/nosurf, /r/dopaminedetoxing, /r/dumbphones, and /r/digitalminimalism). We had two research questions: 1) what were users saying about the impact of digital technology on their attention, and 2) what strategies were they using to mitigate any impact? Our analysis reveals a multifaceted picture; users reported short- and long-term negative impacts on their attention, and discuss these impacts at both the individual and societal level. The reported strategies fit on a continuum from moderation to elimination of digital technology use, with users also calling for collective and social action. Our findings provide a comprehensive overview of the issue at hand, encouraging more depth in narratives about digital technology and its impact on attention.