Modern Social Media, Your Shitty Attention Span, & The Importance of How You Use Your Time

Are you stuck on your phone? Unable to watch a video for more than thirty seconds? You're not the only one. Modern social media has infected our minds like a plague. It's hungry and desperate for what little attention you have left to muster. It is the reason our minds have rotted so much that we cannot pay attention to the real problems around us. When was the last time you picked up a book? Let alone read one? It's probably been a while for the most social media addicted of us. I myself have fallen short when it comes to reading; desperately, I've tried to sit and read for as long as I can, managing only a chapter or two a day. While as a youth, I could finish reading multiple chapters from multiple books a day. Better yet, when was the last time you truly watched or read the news? Do you have a well-versed understanding of what's happening in the world? What about your country? If you live in the United States, do you know what laws are being passed in your state right now?

You may be asking, "Well, Icarus, what does that have to do with social media and my poor attention span?" Hold your horses; I'm getting there. Social media is all about showing you what you want when you want it. Hell, that's what the internet was invented for. But is that always a good thing? Is it possible that the ease of the internet, especially in the modern age, has numbed and dimminished our human experience? I believe it has. Not in the nihilistic way, mind you. I still believe we can experience great things in our lives on earth; I can just assert that social media has hurt how we interpret these things we experience. When you watch a minute-long video on TikTok about the latest celebrity drama, you get instant gratification, a quick feeling of "Man, that was -insert emotion here-," and you move on. Barely even lingering on the feeling given to you within those 60 seconds. This shortens your brain's expectation of the time it'll take to receive satisfaction, no matter how large or small the reward.

Do you have a hobby you enjoy? Something you devote time to that is not only fun but beneficial to you? If you're one of the social media addicted, I'm going to assume you don't. I'm going to assume you, like me for a while now, have watched others do things that you find you enjoy and have thought, "Man, I'd like to do that thing," and then you don't do that thing. For whatever reason, the effort it would take to do that thing is insurmountable, and it's easier to just settle for watching quick videos of others living out your dreams. I'm here to tell you the effort it takes to do what you want in your life is 100% worth it. You should get up and do those 15 push-ups; you should take the time to journal what you're thinking; you should pursue more creative endeavors; make that phone call!!

Taking the time to truly take care of yourself is one of the most important things in this world. Read a book on anything, any subject you can put your mind to. I myself am focused on non-fiction novels of all sorts; increasing our knowledge is vital at this time, and I am attempting to do just that. As well as keeping up with the news of today, the past continues to influence the present, so one must be truly knowledgeable of both. As they say, those who do not know history are doomed to repeat it. Choosing how we use our time, really letting yourself get into something, makes good use of your attention span.

This blog turned into a bit of a yap sesh, but I feel my point has been made. Take charge of your life and pay attention to what you really want to. Use your time wisely and don't fade away.

Yours truly,

Icarus