In the digital age, the term “popcorn brain” has emerged as a metaphor for how our attention shifts from one thing to another, like the popping kernels in a bag of popcorn. Coined by researcher David Levy in 2011 , it explains the overstimulation caused by technology , leading to constant distraction and difficulty in focusing. Popcorn brain describes how our attention rapidly shifts from one thought to another. Similar to our day-to-day lives, the metaphor mirrors the fast-paced environment created by the digital world. Our minds become overwhelmed by the constant influx of information from various sources, resulting in stress and restlessness. What Is The Average Attention Span? According to CNN , Dr. Gloria Mark, a leading expert in informatics at the University of California, Irvine, states that our ability to concentrate is declining. In her book, “ Attention Span: A Groundbreaking Way to Restore Balance, Happiness, and Productivity,” Dr. Mark emphasizes decades of research in...
When the current pandemic crisis reached U.S. shores, I, like much of the country, looked to our government for information. I overdosed on daily press briefings, stayed up-to-date on death tolls and leaned on my online community heavily. To stay sane, I turned to yoga classes on IGTV, virtual happy hours on Zoom, each and every booty-sculpting fitness class, that DJ D-Nice live session (Auntie Michelle arrived and I almost fainted in my bed) and VERZUZ, the online catalog battle between music legends powered by Swizz Beatz and Timbaland. At first, the nonstop entertainment, born as a response to the pandemic, calmed my nerves, as Black culture tends to do. The music lifted my spirit, the workouts helped me sweat out the stress of uncertainty, and the nonstop Twitter jokes kept my mind distracted. But lately, the volume of content and constant connection has become overwhelming, only boosting my anxiety, not alleviating it. If you’ve also felt the weight of being tapped into every...