Seneca's ancient warning on attention resonates in the digital age

Two recent essays examine how modern digital habits are eroding the ability to focus. One cites American Psychological Association research showing the average time a person can concentrate on a single task has fallen from about 2.5 minutes to roughly 40 seconds, and notes that daily leisure reading time has dropped from 40‑50 minutes in the 1990s to about 15 minutes in 2008, with current smartphone use limiting it to three‑to‑five minutes.

The pieces also invoke the ancient philosopher Seneca, quoting his warning that “who wants to be everywhere is nowhere.” They argue that constant multitasking and the pressure to stay present in chats, social media, and multiple activities fragment attention, leaving people feeling busy but unfulfilled. The British Sociological Association’s recent study is referenced to question what one does when doing nothing, underscoring the cultural shift toward a “society of inattention.”