Despite constant access to entertainment, boredom is increasing worldwide, especially among young people. Researchers blame digital media for creating overstimulation, fragmented attention and shallow engagement that leaves people unfulfilled.
A new study published in Communications Psychology reveals that boredom levels among U.S. adolescents and Chinese college students have risen significantly in the past 15 years.
One survey of over 100,000 U.S. adolescents found a steady increase in self-reported boredom beginning in 2011, with girls being more affected than boys.
Similarly, Chinese college students scored 14% higher on the Boredom Proneness Scale between 2009 and 2020, indicating more frequent and intense boredom.
Experts say digital media plays a significant role in this trend. Social media provides constant stimulation, but it’s often predictable, fragmented, and shallow, leaving users feeling unsatisfied.
Download the SAN app today to stay up-to-date with Unbiased. Straight Facts™.
Point phone camera here
Dr. James Danckert, a cognitive neuroscientist, explained that boredom serves an important purpose, it pushes people to explore the world and seek meaningful experiences. However, scrolling through digital feeds does not meet these needs, making life feel less engaging.
The study’s authors conclude that learning to handle boredom in a meaningful way is more important than ever, especially as digital media continues to dominate daily life.
[Karah Rucker]
HAVE YOU EVER TRIED LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO WATCH ON TV… ONLY TO FIND YOURSELF SCROLLING…. AND SCROLLING? AND SO YOU PICK UP YOUR PHONE AND START SCROLLING… AND SCROLLING. AND AT THE END OF IT ALL… YOU JUST FEEL KIND OF BORED?
WELL… ACCORDING TO A NEW STUDY… YOU’RE NOT ALONE. IN FACT… YOU MAY BE EXPERIENCING PART OF AN ONGOING BOREDOM EPIDEMIC SWEEPING THE GLOBE.
RECENT DATA PUBLISHED IN COMMUNICATIONS PSYCHOLOGY FOUND THAT THE AMOUNT OF TIME PEOPLE SPEND FEELING BORED HAS INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY OVER THE LAST 15 YEARS. ONE EXPERIMENT TRACKED 100-THOUSAND ADOLESCENTS FOR NEARLY 10 YEARS. IN THE U.S… THE TREND HAS BEEN SLOWLY CLIMBING SINCE 2011, WITH THE ISSUE BEING MORE PRONOUNCED AMONG GIRLS.
AND IT’S NOT JUST KIDS IN AMERICA. ANOTHER STUDY IN CHINA SHOWED A 14-PERCENT INCREASE IN BOREDOM LEVELS WITH COLLEGE STUDENTS BETWEEN 2009 AND 2020.
SO WHAT’S CAUSING THIS? THE STUDY POINTS TO THE ABUNDANCE OF DIGITAL MEDIA IN OUR MODERN LIVES.
RESEARCHERS BELIEVE SOCIAL MEDIA AND SMARTPHONES ARE CREATING A PARADOX. ON ONE HAND, THEY PROVIDE CONSTANT STIMULATION. BUT ON THE OTHER, THIS OVERSTIMULATION SETS THE BAR SO HIGH THAT TRADITIONAL, LOWER-ENERGY ACTIVITIES LIKE READING OR EVEN FACE-TO-FACE CONVERSATIONS CAN FEEL UNINTERESTING.
STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT FREQUENT INTERRUPTIONS CAN DECREASE SATISFACTION AND THE ABILITY TO ENGAGE IN A TASK… AND HAVING A SMARTPHONE NEARBY CAUSES LESS ATTENTION IN FACE-TO-FACE SOCIAL INTERACTIONS.
SO… WHAT’S THE SOLUTION?
EXPERTS SUGGEST THAT EMBRACING BOREDOM MIGHT ACTUALLY BE THE KEY. THE STUDY ENDS WITH THE QUOTE, “IN THIS DIGITAL AGE, LEARNING TO NAVIGATE MUNDANE MOMENTS IS MORE CRITICAL THAN EVER.” SO IF THERE’S A BOOK YOU’VE BEEN WANTING TO CRACK OPEN FOR A WHILE… NOW MIGHT BE THE BEST TIME.
FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS… I’M KARAH RUCKER.
FOR MORE UNBIASED UPDATES AND STRAIGHT FACTS… DOWNLOAD THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP OR VISIT SAN DOT COM.
Straight to your inbox.
By entering your email, you agree to the Terms & Conditions and acknowledge the Privacy Policy.
MOST POPULAR
-
Jaguar
Jaguar rebrands with new logo, ad and no cars in sight
-
USA TODAY NETWORK via Reuters Connect
Ethics Committee to discuss Gaetz report amid calls for its release
-
SpaceX
Study suggests SpaceX Starship sonic boom impacts locals, Musk responds
-
Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola’s AI-generated ad draws criticism for not using human artists