People are increasingly bored in our digital age
Abstract In an era where entertainment is effortlessly at our fingertips, one would assume that people are less bored than ever. Yet, reports of boredom are higher now than compared to the past. This rising trend is concerning because chronic boredom can undermine well-being, learning, and behaviour...
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| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2024-11-01
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| Series: | Communications Psychology |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s44271-024-00155-9 |
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| _version_ | 1846171664605249536 |
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| author | Katy Y. Y. Tam Michael Inzlicht |
| author_facet | Katy Y. Y. Tam Michael Inzlicht |
| author_sort | Katy Y. Y. Tam |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract In an era where entertainment is effortlessly at our fingertips, one would assume that people are less bored than ever. Yet, reports of boredom are higher now than compared to the past. This rising trend is concerning because chronic boredom can undermine well-being, learning, and behaviour. Understanding why this is happening is crucial to prevent further negative impacts. In this Perspective, we explore one possible reason—digital media use makes people more bored. We propose that digital media increases boredom through dividing attention, elevating desired level of engagement, reducing sense of meaning, heightening opportunity costs, and serving as an ineffective boredom coping strategy. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-4f0fe0cae3a249b48c88e4b509f30f47 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2731-9121 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-11-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Communications Psychology |
| spelling | doaj-art-4f0fe0cae3a249b48c88e4b509f30f472024-11-10T12:41:37ZengNature PortfolioCommunications Psychology2731-91212024-11-01211910.1038/s44271-024-00155-9People are increasingly bored in our digital ageKaty Y. Y. Tam0Michael Inzlicht1Department of Psychology, University of TorontoDepartment of Psychology, University of TorontoAbstract In an era where entertainment is effortlessly at our fingertips, one would assume that people are less bored than ever. Yet, reports of boredom are higher now than compared to the past. This rising trend is concerning because chronic boredom can undermine well-being, learning, and behaviour. Understanding why this is happening is crucial to prevent further negative impacts. In this Perspective, we explore one possible reason—digital media use makes people more bored. We propose that digital media increases boredom through dividing attention, elevating desired level of engagement, reducing sense of meaning, heightening opportunity costs, and serving as an ineffective boredom coping strategy.https://doi.org/10.1038/s44271-024-00155-9 |
| spellingShingle | Katy Y. Y. Tam Michael Inzlicht People are increasingly bored in our digital age Communications Psychology |
| title | People are increasingly bored in our digital age |
| title_full | People are increasingly bored in our digital age |
| title_fullStr | People are increasingly bored in our digital age |
| title_full_unstemmed | People are increasingly bored in our digital age |
| title_short | People are increasingly bored in our digital age |
| title_sort | people are increasingly bored in our digital age |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s44271-024-00155-9 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT katyyytam peopleareincreasinglyboredinourdigitalage AT michaelinzlicht peopleareincreasinglyboredinourdigitalage |