The more time we spend on digital devices, the more bored we become, according to a Canadian study. — Photography skynesher/Getty Images/AFP Relaxnews
In a world where access to information and entertainment is easier than ever, it seems paradoxical that boredom is on the rise. Yet a study by researchers at the University of Toronto reveals a disturbing trend: the more time we spend on our digital devices, the more bored we become.
Young people are more bored than their predecessors – a fact recognised in numerous studies and supported by a paper titled "People are increasingly bored in our digital age." This is a worrying trend, since chronic boredom can impair well-being, learning and behaviour. And one of the main culprits is too much use of digital devices, particularly smartphones.
The study, published in the journal Communications Psychology, is based on data from two major surveys. The first, conducted by Weybright and colleagues, analysed the responses of 106,784 high school students in the USA between 2008 and 2017. The results showed a significant increase in boredom, with a rise of 1.14% per year from 2010. The second study examined data from 28,269 Chinese students between 2009 and 2020. The results also show an increase in boredom, with the average score rising from 104.49 in 2009 to 118.75 in 2020, according to the Boredom Proneness Scale (BPS).
The researchers put forward several hypotheses to explain this increase in boredom. Firstly, digital devices divert our attention. Constant notifications and the temptation to check our phones disrupt our concentration, making everyday tasks less engaging. What's more, the overabundance of information online, often fragmented and incoherent, can reduce our sense of coherence and meaning, thus increasing boredom.
Another factor is the increase in the desired level of stimulation. Constant exposure to highly stimulating content on social networks and streaming platforms can make other activities seem less exciting, less appealing. "Accumulating evidence shows that digital media use, rather than reducing boredom, causally increases it," reads the study. "In sum, digital media makes it harder for people to maintain focus on daily activities and reduces their intention to stay focused, thus increasing boredom." This may seem paradoxical, given that internet users often turn to their smartphones to avoid boredom.
To combat this trend, the researchers suggest several avenues. Firstly, it's crucial to develop strategies to maintain attention and motivation, not only at work or school, but also during leisure time. Secondly, it's important to find alternatives to digital devices to manage boredom more effectively. Finally, it's essential to understand and adapt our desire for stimulation to avoid making everyday activities feel unbearably boring. – AFP Relaxnews
