Social media has ruined my concentration and changed my personality.

[ADHD89]

To think that social media, Instagram, Tiktok, YouTube, Facebook ,Mumsnet , Reddit , Chatgpt, etc have totally ruined my concentration span and now make reading/concentrating on a book or a movie really unappealing and uninteresting ?
I am much more interested in watching 2 minute reels, then reading through comments, and basically finding out about all sorts of topics and going down rabbit holes etc. I also enjoy reading dilemmas on Facebook groups and on mumsnet and seeing what people say. I also use Chatgpt alot as like a regular counsellor.
It makes me sad as I used to be such a book lover when I was younger and I watched about 4 or 5 movies at the weekend when I was younger..its like I've completely changed involuntarily.
Anyone else feel the same?

So many of these posts read like you're self-harming.
And like you know you're doing it, but are carrying on anyway.

Jesus

Yes I've never been one for social media.. but a smart phone is more than that. A YouTube short gives us that quick dopamine hit that even a 5 minute video seems long! I also like books but it now takes more of a conscious effort to pick one up and get reading when I have a phone with an array of things to do on it. I miss the simplicity of just flipping through a magazine - I like physical copies of things but the phone really does take over.
I've always found it a bit difficult to sit through a length of a film (unless really gripping!) but now I have to be doing something on my phone at the same time.
I worry about the kids with this constant engagement, endless information they can be exposed to. It's overwhelming.

I've managed to get back into reading recently. Getting a Kindle really helped with that. Also being in a book club, so you have to read the book within a month. I have several books on the go, so I can switch if I start getting bored with a book. I do like MN, but other social media doesn't hold my attention. I can't watch more than a couple of reels at a time.

If this is what it does to us as adults, with developed brains, think what it is doing to children. It's really awful.

I listened to this earlier, really interesting take on what short-form media is doing to us collectively and individually. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002tpw0?partner=uk.co.bbc&origin=share-mobile

Go cold Turkey. You need to actually delete these apps

Hmmm I do use the internet most days, I'll have YouTube on when I am doing something boring on the PC and I'll sometimes go down rabbit holes and on occasion I waste too much time online but it hasn't affected my ability to read books or watch films. I don't really do a lot of short form content or tik tok so maybe it's that. I can easily sit and read a book all day if I have nothing else on so I don't feel that it has damaged my focus.

My house is untidier than it otherwise would be, due to my phone habit. It’s that bad.

My DC aren't interested in movies, lost interest in books, thanks to screens and video shorts.

For myself, I currently have a library book I've been waiting months for, which I'll likely return unread, just like the last one. However, this is because I don't have the opportunity to spend on watching or reading. I am interrupted at least every five minutes by kids/DH or DM calling, washing machine beeping, etc. Scrolling takes no emotional investment, whereas a movie/book do, and it's too frustrating to be continually interrupted, so modern life plays a part. I still love curling up with a good book or movie.

Admittedly most movies & books are mass produced crap now & not worth the effort.

I agree. I think it's the exposure to continuous short term content that isn't great.

I don't watch YouTube shorts because they are so shouty and just a continuous feed. I came off FB years ago and have never done insta or tik tok, so also might play a part in my exposure here.

I also like reading and can concentrate on other things (although can find myself doom scrolling on MN - an allowance I allow myself).

If I do find myself wanting to know something about a thing, and I do go down a rabbit hole of information that is at the fingertips on my smart phone, then I read stats, several sources or research papers, etc. Not just comments or opinions. That takes quite a bit of concentration.

However I would agree with OP. I used to be an avid reader and now, with a teenager who leaves me with more free time than a toddler, could read more but so find myself picking up the phone instead of the book. I am going to pick the book up this weekend I think.

I find it easier to re read books that I've read before

Probably because it takes less mental juice than a new book

At least it's reading!

I can listen to audio books for a long time. It has to be engaging though. I enjoy all the same things you do and I do like going down rabbit holes. I don't read physical books as often, though I do try. I can watch movies and TV shows no problem. I think, for me, it's more about competing tasks. I am busy and can't just sit down for ages with a book like I did when I was younger. Duty calls! In fact, audio books are what I use to compensate for lack of reading time. I can listen while I cook, clean, etc.

ChatGPT is good for some stuff but I really would not rely on it as a counsellor. Is there no IRL person you can confide in? Or therapist?

I don't think that's true, about books at least. I do think that translated fiction tends to be better. I find a lot of modern US & UK fiction boring but there is still good stuff, often from smaller presses.

I too have adhd it’s dopamine. Have you tried a kindle ?

I am not like this at all. I use social media but can still devour books and can easily watch a movie or TV series or listen to podcasts without losing focus. If it worries you then you can just stop with the social media. Of course it can be undone!

I can still read a book fine but if a film doesn’t grab me instantly I’m bored after ten minutes

I’m joining this club too. I definitely spend too much time online, but kids are grown up; i’m single. But still, i’d like to spend less time online.

Audible in the car is great - I drive plenty for work and you get 1 credit a month with Amazon now. That and radio 4 stop me feeling like a total failure!

I do this too

yeah me too i’ve three books that need reading. My concentration is shit. I need to wean my phone habit!

No. Absolutely not. I avoid all SM except MN precisely because I can’t deal with it. I much prefer a novel to get stuck into.

What are you planning to do to wean yourself off it?

It’s an addiction like any other. You wouldn’t say that to someone who admits to struggling with acohol, smoking or self harming- you’d advise them to get help. So why would you that to someone struggling with phone addiction?

tech companies that have spent trillions ensuring these devices and apps are as addictive as possible, so that we spend longer on them to feed their profits.

Unlike other addictions, phone addiction is not yet taken seriously at government and NHS level. A device like this in the hands of someone who already has addictive tendencies is very dangerous, but unlike alcohol, cigarettes, sugar and other harmful substances, this is not yet recognised as harmful and therefore remains an unregulated industry. There are no well known pathways, groups or public support mechanisms for seeking help with this phone addiction - every addict who manages to overcome this addiction has to do it by their own sheer willpower.

So rather than sneering, perhaps recognise how difficult this must be to overcome and actually offer useful advice.

Same here ... especially films. There are a few TV shows I can get totally absorbed in, Race Around the world and any travel shows but I'm finding fictional shows just meh and yes reading a book is also a struggle. I find at work (self employed) I get so distracted by my phone - will work for 10 mins then 30 mins scrolling...such a waste

Yep.
And people wonder why we have an increase in ADHD in both children and adults. And why kids are struggling to concentrate in classrooms. They’ve even proven that screen use on phones and tablets creates the same brain patterns as those diagnosed with ADHD.

I am guilty of it and I hate it. I think the smart phone was the worse invention ever created and I stand by that.