More and more people are struggling with a shrinking attention span, often lamenting an inability to focus for even a few uninterrupted minutes. This concern is not just anecdotal, but backed by research showing that our ability to concentrate has declined sharply in the digital age. As society wrestles with the implications—especially for countries like Thailand, where digital consumption is booming—new evidence suggests that both the causes and remedies may be more nuanced than we realize.
For years, adults could manage about two and a half minutes of focus while working at a screen before getting distracted. By 2012, this had dropped to about 75 seconds. Today, several studies place the average at just 47 seconds, according to Professor Gloria Mark, an authority on attention from the University of California, Irvine, and author of “Attention Span: A Groundbreaking Way to Restore Balance, Happiness, and Productivity” (Vulture). Nearly half of U.K. adults now believe their ability to focus is shriveling, and many say “deep thinking has become a thing of the past.”
The issue is frequently blamed on smartphones and social media, and books like Johann Hari’s “Stolen Focus” and Jenny Odell’s “How to Do Nothing” have become bestsellers by diagnosing or attempting to cure this problem. Others, such as Jean Twenge’s “iGen” and Jonathan Haidt’s “The Anxious Generation,” highlight the particular vulnerability of young people to digital distraction.
Yet some experts argue that our shrinking attention span is as much the result of workplace changes as it is of the smartphone. Computer scientist Cal Newport—a leading thinker on distraction—points out that email, digital calendars, and multitasking have increased “pseudo-productivity.” People are stuck in endless loops of small, administrative tasks and constant context-switching, sacrificing meaningful, concentrated work for a frazzled state that feels productive but is ultimately unfulfilling (Vulture).
This reality resonates in Thailand, where digital penetration is among the highest in Southeast Asia, and “always-on” culture is celebrated in many offices. Professionals frequently juggle Line chat groups, workplace messengers, and a constant barrage of notifications, often working well beyond standard office hours—a trend exacerbated during and after the Covid-19 pandemic (Bangkok Post).
In response, people are fighting to reclaim their focus in creative and often communal ways. These include “Difficult Book Clubs” that challenge members to read classic, complex literature in a group setting, a revival of slow hobbies like knitting and pottery, digital gardening, and self-imposed device restrictions. Some creators share their own “Attention Span Rehab” on TikTok or host YouTube sessions encouraging viewers to watch long, slow-paced films—like the 1975 masterpiece “Jeanne Dielman, 23 Quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles”—in a bid to retrain their brains for deeper focus.
Others install app-blockers or set their phones to grayscale mode, strategies that reportedly aid those lacking strong self-regulation, according to Professor Mark. For about half of people, these tools help break the compulsive cycle of attention fragmentation—at least temporarily. However, Mark notes that sustainable improvement comes only through systemic habit changes: developing “meta-awareness” about our behaviors, exercising willpower, and, crucially, taking more breaks, which paradoxically can help prevent burnout and the urge to distract oneself online (Vulture).
Still, not everyone agrees the “crisis of attention” is as dire as media coverage suggests. Professor Daniel Immerwahr, a historian, points out that shifting attention spans may simply reflect changes in how we consume information. The rise of audio and video content, he argues, may be no less intellectually rigorous than longform writing. In fact, many people now spend hours in hyperfocused states—watching live streams, studying, or connecting with niche communities online.
This viewpoint mirrors similar debates in Thai society around the merits of traditional rote learning versus the new wave of digital media literacy. As education officials here experiment with “smart classrooms” and e-learning, questions have arisen about whether technology undermines or enhances students’ depth of thinking (Bangkok Post).
Thai experts in the health and education sectors caution that restoring attention is not only about minimizing tech use but also about restoring balance in daily life. “The Thai way of sabai-sabai—taking things easy—is a cultural asset for resisting the pressure to be constantly productive and accessible,” said a senior official from Mahidol University’s neuroscience programme. The same expert notes, however, that urban Thais, especially students and young professionals, increasingly feel guilty when taking time for rest, leisure, or boredom—ironically driving them to digital distraction as an escape. This mirrors the article author’s observation that people may avoid “luxurious” unproductive time (such as watching a long film or taking a walk) even though those activities are essential for mental replenishment (Vulture).
Community may be the key. Whether it’s book clubs, shared hobbies, or even online discussion forums, group participation gives structure and meaning to time spent away from screens. Some experts also recommend reintroducing elements of boredom, once seen as essential to creativity and deep learning. “Let children be bored sometimes,” advised an experienced Thai child psychologist interviewed by the Bangkok Post. “It’s in those quiet moments that curiosity and resilience develop, far more than during constant digital stimulation.”
As Thailand’s National Digital Economy and Society Commission seeks to balance digital literacy with well-being in schools, new initiatives like “tech-free” study hours and guided mindfulness sessions are being piloted in several Bangkok secondary schools.
Looking to the future, the challenge may be less about eliminating technology and more about harnessing it for intentional, meaningful use. Experts recommend:
- Setting intentional “tech-free” hours at home and work
- Establishing regular group activities—reading circles, craft sessions, sports—that promote social connection and deep engagement
- Using mindfulness techniques such as meditation, even in brief daily sessions
- Practicing meta-awareness: noting your own moments of distraction and gently steering yourself back to focus
- Embracing boredom as a natural and even necessary part of healthy brain function
Ultimately, the research suggests that regaining control of our attention is not about rejecting the digital world, but recognizing when it serves us and when it doesn’t. For Thai readers navigating the rapid digitalization of daily life, the greatest takeaway may be to reclaim moments of slowness, connect through community, and allow space for the mind to wander—just as previous generations did, whether in a temple garden or beneath a tamarind tree waiting for inspiration.
For more resources on attention training, mindfulness, and community learning, readers are encouraged to consult the Department of Mental Health’s online guides (dmh.go.th) and discover local initiatives like the Bangkok Mindfulness Centre and university book clubs. As with so much in Thai life, the path forward may lie in reconnecting with balance—both digital and real.