Gloria Mark says AI chatbots shrink attention spans
SkimNews Take
The brain's natural tendency to offload cognitive tasks onto external tools, a process known as cognitive outsourcing, is accelerating with AI chatbots, potentially leading to a diminished capacity for independent thought and problem-solving.
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- Gloria Mark said people have lost control of their brains due to AI chatbots and digital technology.
- Gloria Mark's longitudinal research found adult attention spans fell from 2.5 minutes in 2003 to 75 seconds in 2012 and 47 seconds by 2020.
- Gloria Mark observed a direct link between rapid attention switching and higher stress levels measured by heart‑rate monitors.
- Gloria Mark reported that frequent attention switching lengthens task completion time and harms emotional well‑being.
- Meta settled a lawsuit with a Kentucky school district seeking over $60 million for mental‑health costs linked to its addictive products.
- YouTube was ordered to pay millions in damages to a 20‑year‑old woman who claimed the platform contributed to her childhood addiction.
- Australia enacted a social‑media ban for users under 16 at the end of last year.
Why it matters: People who depend on sustained attention and emotional intelligence risk cognitive decline as AI tools encourage shallow processing, while schools, mental‑health providers, and regulators gain leverage to push for usage limits and age‑based bans, as reflected in lawsuits and Australia’s new under‑16 ban.
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