📖문해력 위기? 산만의 시대? 현대인들이 집중을 못하는 이유 (ft.도둑맞은 집중력, 요한하리 작가)

Summary

The video script discusses the impact of technology on our attention span and mental well-being. It narrates a personal story of a man and his godson's journey to Graceland, highlighting the struggle to disconnect from digital devices. The speaker explores the neuroscience behind our limited attention capacity and the detrimental effects of multitasking. He delves into the negativity bias of algorithms on social media, which promote anger and division, and how this contributes to increased anxiety levels, especially among teenagers. The script also examines the concept of productivity, debunking the myth that constant connectivity and stress lead to better performance. It concludes with a call to action, encouraging viewers to recognize the power they have as citizens to reshape their relationship with technology and reclaim their attention for a healthier, more focused life.

Takeaways

• 😣 The speaker feels overwhelmed by the negative messages received on platforms like YouTube.
• 👶 A pivotal moment in the speaker's life was a promise made to their godson to visit Graceland, which later became a realization of the detrimental effects of technology on attention and presence.
• 📱 The speaker observes the addictive and distracting nature of technology, particularly in the life of their godson who was constantly engaged with his devices.
• 🚗 The decision to travel to Graceland without using phones during the day was an attempt to break free from the numbing routine and engage more deeply with the world.
• 🏰 Upon reaching Graceland, the speaker notes the irony of people using iPads for the tour, highlighting the pervasiveness of screen time even in moments meant for experiencing something firsthand.
• 👀 The speaker's attempt to connect with their godson at Graceland is met with resistance, as the godson is unable to break away from his addiction to social media.
• 🧠 The script discusses the scientific evidence behind how technology impacts our attention span and cognitive abilities, with references to neuroscientists like Professor Earl Miller.
• 🔄 The concept of 'switch cost effect' is introduced to explain the cognitive cost of constantly switching between tasks, which is detrimental to productivity and intelligence.
• 👁️ The negativity bias in technology algorithms is highlighted, explaining how platforms promote content that evokes strong negative emotions due to higher engagement.
• 📚 The importance of meaningful learning environments is underscored, with examples of progressive schools that foster attention and engagement through interest-driven education.
• 🤯 The script points out the misconception of productivity in modern society, suggesting that being constantly connected and busy does not equate to being productive.
• 🌐 The speaker calls for a collective shift in psychology, encouraging people to take responsibility for their attention and not blame themselves for the effects of technology.

Q & A

What was the initial motivation for the speaker to investigate the impact of technology on attention?

The speaker was motivated to investigate the impact of technology on attention after noticing the negative effects of constant device usage on their godson's life, which led to a numbing routine and a realization that this was not a healthy way to live.

What promise did the speaker make to their godson when he was nine years old?

The speaker promised their godson that they would take him to Graceland, Elvis Presley's home, when he expressed a desire to visit after hearing stories about Elvis's life.

How did the speaker's godson's behavior change as he grew older?

As the godson grew older, he became addicted to his iPhone, iPad, and laptop, spending most of his waking hours on these devices and experiencing a blur of WhatsApp, YouTube, and other distractions.

What condition did the speaker set for their godson before embarking on the trip to Graceland?

The speaker asked their godson to leave his phone in the hotel during the day while on the trip to ensure that he would be present and engaged in the experience, rather than being distracted by his phone.

What was the speaker's observation about people's behavior at Graceland?

The speaker observed that people at Graceland were mostly staring at their iPads provided for the tour, rather than looking at the actual exhibits, indicating that the constant need to look at screens is deeply ingrained.

Why did the speaker confront their godson about his phone usage at Graceland?

The speaker confronted their godson because he was not present in the moment and was missing out on the experience by constantly checking his phone, which went against the purpose of the trip.

What did the speaker learn from Professor Earl Miller about the human brain's limitations?

Professor Earl Miller explained that the human brain can only consciously think about one or two things at a time, which is a fundamental limitation. The belief that one can multitask is a misconception; what actually happens is rapid juggling between tasks, which comes with a significant cost known as the switch cost effect.

What is the switch cost effect, and how does it impact productivity?

The switch cost effect refers to the cognitive cost of switching between tasks. It significantly reduces productivity because each switch consumes mental resources, leading to a decrease in overall efficiency and focus.

What role do algorithms play in promoting negative content, and what is their impact on society?

Algorithms tend to promote negative content because it is more engaging and keeps users scrolling for longer periods. This leads to increased exposure to anger and hostility, which can contribute to higher levels of anxiety and societal division.

How does the speaker suggest we can improve our attention and overall well-being?

The speaker suggests that we need to stop blaming ourselves and start addressing the external factors that are causing these issues. By understanding the science behind attention and making conscious choices about how we engage with technology, we can improve our focus and overall well-being.

What is the significance of the speaker's visit to the evangelicia Schuler zentrum in Berlin?

The visit to the evangelicia Schuler zentrum in Berlin was significant because it showcased a progressive educational model where learning is infused with meaning and interest. This approach leads to better attention and engagement from students, as opposed to traditional methods that may not cater to individual interests.

What example does the speaker provide about the misconception of productivity in the workplace?

The speaker cites an example of Andrew Barnes, who discovered that the average office worker only focuses on their job for three hours a day. Barnes then experimented with a four-day workweek, which paradoxically increased productivity, showing that exhausted people are not productive and that a better work-life balance can lead to better outcomes.

How does the speaker connect the collapse of individual and collective attention to the state of democracy?

The speaker connects the collapse of individual and collective attention to the state of democracy by stating that democracy requires a citizenry capable of deep thought, discerning truth from lies, and sustaining pressure on politicians. A society with poor attention spans struggles to maintain a healthy democracy.

What is the speaker's call to action regarding the impact of technology on our lives?

The speaker calls for a shift in psychology, urging us to stop blaming ourselves and instead take on the factors that are harming our attention. The speaker encourages us to reclaim our minds and our attention by making conscious decisions about our engagement with technology and advocating for change.

Outlines

00:00

🗣️ The Impact of Digital Distractions

The speaker discusses the struggle with the overwhelming messages from social media platforms like YouTube and the need to 'pull oneself together.' A pivotal moment was a promise made to their godson to visit Graceland, which was postponed for a decade. Upon reflection, the speaker realized the detrimental effect of constant digital engagement on their godson's life and decided to break the cycle by embarking on a road trip to Graceland, with the condition that they would leave their phones behind. This journey highlighted the pervasive influence of screens, even in a place meant for experiencing history, and the difficulty of breaking away from the digital distractions that have become a norm.

05:15

🧠 Understanding the Human Brain's Limitations

The speaker explores the concept of attention and its limitations, as explained by neuroscientist Professor Earl Miller. The human brain can only consciously focus on one or two things at a time, and multitasking is merely rapid task-switching, which incurs a 'switch cost' that diminishes cognitive efficiency. The speaker cites a study where uninterrupted workers had higher IQ scores than those who were constantly interrupted. Furthermore, the negativity bias in technology algorithms exacerbates the problem by promoting content that triggers anger and upset, leading to increased anxiety and distraction. The speaker emphasizes the need to address these issues to improve both individual and collective attention.

10:33

📚 The Power of Meaningful Learning

The speaker advocates for education systems that focus on meaningful learning to improve attention and productivity. They visited a progressive school in Berlin where students were engaged in a project about living on the moon, which integrated various subjects and sparked the students' interest. This approach is contrasted with the speaker's own schooling experience, where learning languages was forced and not meaningful, resulting in a lack of retention. The speaker argues that meaningful learning environments produce students who can focus better and are more productive, which is a stark contrast to the current misconceptions about productivity.

16:10

🌐 The Role of Technology in Collective Attention

The speaker discusses the impact of technology on collective attention, using Facebook's internal research as an example. The research revealed that Facebook's algorithm was promoting hatred and division, which parallels the collapse of individual attention. The speaker argues that the same factors harming individual attention are also damaging collective attention, which is essential for a functioning democracy. They call for a shift in psychology, urging people to stop blaming themselves and instead address the factors causing these issues. The speaker concludes with a call to action for citizens to reclaim their minds and attention in the face of technological influences.

Keywords

💡Distraction

Distraction refers to the act of drawing one's attention away from the current task or focus. In the video's context, it is portrayed as a major issue in modern life, where people are constantly pulled away from meaningful experiences by digital devices and social media. The script mentions the protagonist's godson being unable to stop using his phone, even during a significant trip to Graceland, illustrating the pervasive nature of digital distraction.

💡Presence

Presence denotes the state of being fully engaged and attentive to one's immediate surroundings and experiences. The video emphasizes the importance of being present in one's own life, as opposed to being absorbed in digital screens. The speaker criticizes the use of devices like the iPad during a tour of Graceland, where visitors are missing the actual experience by focusing on the screen, highlighting the theme of presence versus digital disconnection.

💡Switch Cost Effect

The switch cost effect is a psychological term describing the cognitive cost of switching between tasks. The video uses this concept to explain the inefficiency and mental strain caused by multitasking, especially in the context of modern work environments where constant interruptions are the norm. The script provides an example of a study where workers who were not interrupted scored 10 IQ points higher, illustrating the significant impact of task-switching on cognitive performance.

💡Negativity Bias

Negativity bias is a cognitive bias that causes people to pay more attention to negative experiences or information than to positive ones. In the video, this concept is used to explain how algorithms on social media platforms exploit this bias by promoting content that evokes anger or strong negative emotions, as it is more engaging and keeps users on the platform longer. The script cites the example of two teenage girls posting about a party, where the negative post gets more visibility due to the negativity bias.

💡Productivity

Productivity is the measure of efficiency in which tasks are completed. The video challenges the conventional understanding of productivity by suggesting that constant multitasking and digital distractions actually reduce efficiency. It references a study that found the average office worker only focuses on their job for three hours a day, and a company that increased productivity by implementing a four-day workweek, demonstrating that less time spent working can lead to more focused and productive work.

💡Algorithms

Algorithms, in the context of the video, refer to the automated processes used by social media platforms to select and display content to users. The video discusses how these algorithms can exacerbate negative behaviors and thoughts by promoting content that triggers strong emotional responses. The script describes how algorithms learn from user engagement and push more of the same type of content, leading to a feedback loop of negativity and distraction.

💡Attention

Attention is the cognitive process of selectively concentrating on one aspect of information while ignoring other perceivable information. The video's theme revolves around the impact of digital technology on human attention, suggesting that the constant barrage of digital stimuli is eroding our ability to focus and engage with the world meaningfully. The script uses the example of a frog focusing on a fly to illustrate the concept of attention being drawn to meaningful stimuli, contrasting it with the unfocused state of many people in a digital age.

💡Meaningful Engagement

Meaningful engagement refers to the act of deeply connecting with and being invested in an activity or subject. The video argues that meaningful engagement is crucial for learning and productivity. It contrasts traditional education methods, which often involve rote learning and lack of interest, with progressive schools that foster curiosity and engagement, leading to better attention and learning outcomes. The script describes a school where students explore a question they find interesting, leading to a more meaningful educational experience.

💡Collective Attention

Collective attention is the shared focus or concern of a group or society on particular issues or events. The video suggests that the erosion of individual attention has broader implications for society, affecting collective attention and the functioning of democracy. It posits that a society that cannot focus or think deeply is ill-equipped to engage in democratic processes, such as discerning truth from lies and holding politicians accountable. The script connects the decline in individual attention with the rise in divisiveness and hatred in society.

💡Digital Detox

Digital detox is the practice of taking a break from digital devices and technology to improve mental health and focus. The video's narrative includes a personal account of a digital detox journey to Graceland, which serves as a metaphor for the need to disconnect from constant digital distractions to reconnect with the world and oneself. The script describes the protagonist's attempt to break the cycle of digital addiction with his godson, highlighting the challenges and the importance of such a detox.

Highlights

The speaker discusses the negative impact of constant digital distractions on mental health and well-being.

A personal anecdote about a godson's obsession with Elvis Presley leads to a meaningful road trip to Graceland.

The realization of the speaker that modern technology has led to a numbing routine and a lack of presence in one's own life.

An agreement with the godson to leave phones behind during the day to truly experience the trip to Graceland.

Observation of visitors at Graceland using iPads for the tour instead of engaging with the environment.

The godson's struggle to disconnect from his phone, even during a meaningful trip, highlighting the power of digital addiction.

A confrontation about the importance of being present in one's life rather than being consumed by digital distractions.

The speaker's quest to understand the impact of technology on attention and mental health, leading to research at MIT.

Interview with Professor Earl Miller revealing the brain's limitation to consciously think about only one or two things at a time.

The concept of 'switch cost effect' explaining the cognitive cost of multitasking and constant switching between tasks.

A study showing that uninterrupted workers have a significantly higher IQ score compared to those who are chronically interrupted.

The role of technology in promoting negative bias and its impact on mental health, particularly in young people.

The speaker's visit to progressive schools that infuse learning with meaning to improve attention and engagement.

Andrew Barnes' experiment with a four-day workweek resulting in increased productivity and employee satisfaction.

Facebook's internal research showing that its algorithm inherently promotes hatred and division.

The connection between the collapse of individual and collective attention and the health of democracy.

The speaker's call to action for citizens to reclaim their attention and minds from the influence of technology.

Transcripts

you know foreign

foreign

I'm not strong enough the kind of

messages you're getting from the people

who Shout At You on YouTube you know

just pull yourself together pull

yourself together I kept saying to

myself and actually it was an experience

with a young person that I really loved

that made me really forced me to begin

to investigate this I've got a godson

and when he was nine he developed a

brief and very cute obsession with Elvis

Presley and every night when he would

get me to tuck him into bed he got me to

tell him the story of Elvis's life over

and over again and one night I mentioned

Graceland where Elvis lived and I said

you know people go and visit it and his

whole face lit up and he said well Johan

will you take me to Graceland and I said

sure the way you do with nine-year-olds

and he said no do you really swear one

day you'll take me to Graceland and I

said I absolutely promise and I didn't

think at that moment again for 10 years

until so many things had gone wrong by

the time he was 19 he spent literally

almost all his waking hours alternating

between his iPhone his iPad and his

laptop and his life was just this blur

of WhatsApp YouTube porn and it really

felt like he was almost like moving at

the speed of Snapchat I wasn't that much

better right I wasn't quite as bad but I

was staring at my own devices and I

thought God this is no way to live and I

suddenly remembered this moment all

these years before and I said to him

hang let's go to Graceland this is no

way to live let's break this numbing

routine let's go on a road trip all over

the South but you've got to promise me

one thing which is if we go you'll leave

your phone in the hotel during the day

because there's no point in going if

you're just going to stare at your phone

the whole time and it took a while and

he really thought about it because he

wasn't happy living like this and he

said you know what let's do it and I

think it was two weeks maybe three weeks

later we took off to New Orleans where

we went first and a couple of weeks

later we got to the gates of Graceland

right there was no person to show you

around anymore what happens is you

arrive they hand you an iPad you put in

earbuds and the iPad card shows you

around right it says go live all right

I'm noticing as we're walking around

people just walk around Graceland

staring at the iPad right but it's the

slightly odd I'm kind of looking at them

and thinking wow we traveled a long way

to to get here but no one's looking at

it and yet he shouldn't be looking at a

screen but looking at the screen is part

of the tour program exactly it's like

the world is constantly pushing you to

be staring at screens and every now and

then someone would look away from their

screen and I would smile and try to make

eye contact with them and I'd realize

they looked away from the iPad to take

out their iPhone take a selfie put the

phone back go back to looking at the

screen and turn to my godson to laugh

about it he was standing in the corner

staring at Snapchat because from the

moment we landed he literally could not

stop and I went up to him grabbed the

phone out of his hands but he's stronger

than me and I said look I know you're

afraid of missing out but this is

guaranteeing that you'll miss out you're

not present in your own life you're not

showing up at the events of your own

existence this is no way to to live and

he stormed off understandably and I

found him that night by the Heartbreak

Hotel where we were staying up the

street and he was sitting by the huge

guitar shaped swimming pool and I went

up to him and I apologize for getting so

angry and he didn't look up from his

phone but he said I know something's

really wrong and I don't know what it is

we came to get away from that problem of

distraction but there was nowhere to

escape to because it is the air we

breathe it's everywhere and that's when

I thought okay I need to get to the

bottom of what's happened to us and most

importantly how do we put it

this is actually scientific evidence for

12 factors

make your attention better or can make

it worse and and load

s have been hugely rising in recent

years so when you feel the way you did

when I feel the way I did it's the

sudden realization oh there's nothing

wrong with you and there's nothing wrong

with me there's something wrong with the

way we're living together

so I went to MIT the Massachusetts

Institute of Technology to interview one

of the leading neuroscientists in the

world an amazing man named Professor

Earl Miller and he said to me look

there's one thing you have to understand

about the human brain more than anything

else you can only consciously think

about one or two things at a time that's

it this is a fundamental limitation of

the human brain the average teenager now

believes they can follow seven forms of

media at the same time so what happens

is scientists like Professor Miller

scientists all over the world including

in Korea get people into labs and get

them to think they're doing more than

one thing at a time and then they

monitor them and what they discover is

always the same you can't do more than

one thing at a time but what you do is

you juggle very rapidly between tasks

you're like what did you just ask me

what is this message on WhatsApp what

does it say on the TV over there what is

this message on Facebook wait so what

did you ask me again and it turns out

that juggling comes with a really big

cost the technical term for it is the

switch cost effect the most important

terms people can learn the switch cost

effect

switching questions

the printer company got a scientist in

to study their workers and he split them

into two groups and the first group was

told just get on with your task whatever

it is and you're not going to be

interrupted and the second group was

told get on with your task whatever it

is at the same time though you've got to

answer a heavy load of email and phone

calls so pretty much how most of us live

and at the end of it the scientists

involved Dr Glenn Wilson tested the IQs

of both groups the group that had not

been interrupted scored on average 10 IQ

points higher than the group they had to

give you a sense of how big an effect

that is if you were me smoked cannabis

together now and got stoned our IQs

would go down in the short term by five

point

so being chronically interrupted is

twice as bad of your intelligence in the

short term as getting stoned but you can

see how big an effect this is right

technology

the technical term for it is negativity

bias basically you will stare longer at

something that makes you angry and upset

than you will at something that makes

you feel good if you've ever seen a car

crash on the highway you know what I

mean you stared longer at the car wreck

than you did at the pretty flowers on

the other side of the street right

closer to our profession is when we see

90 good book reviews we forget about

them and we see one bad one and you stay

open right wanting to respond to that

person you know saying that that's not

what I meant uh I completely agree this

has always been part of us but when it

combines with algorithms that learn who

you are and what makes you specifically

angry it has a terrible effect so

picture two teenage girls who go to the

same party and go home on the same bus

they both open their phones and do Tick

Tock videos and one of them says that

was such a great party last night we

danced to Ariana Grande loved it brought

fun and the other one opens their phone

and goes ugh Aaron was an absolute skank

at that party and her boyfriend's an

and just as an angry rant about

everyone at the party the algorithms are

constantly scanning the kind of words

you use and they'll put the first video

into a few people's feeds but it'll put

the second video into far more people's

speeds because if it's enraging it's

engaging you know what do you mean

Karen's a skang you're a skank it's

gonna cause a fight you're going to come

back you keep arguing more and more

people get drawn in so we can talk about

the sharing lovely videos about flipping

water bottles which I agree love it but

the the algorithm will mix that with

increasingly negative and hostile videos

because you are more likely to keep

scrolling if you see anger in hostile

videos in fact Professor Gene twangy in

San Diego has shown in the United States

the average teenage girl now has the

same level of anxiety that the average

teenager admitted to a psychiatric

hospital had in the 1950s right so we've

got very high levels of anxiety

questions

in fact they discovered that a third of

all the people who had joined Neo-Nazi

groups in Germany had joined because the

Facebook algorithm it's specifically

recommended it you might want to join it

said followed by a Neo-Nazi groups

is attention involved to attach to

meaning a frog can pay really good

attention to a fly and it doesn't pay

very much attention to a stone because a

fly is really meaningful to a frog

that's dinner right the stone who cares

it's nothing to me right schools that

are about finding out what kids find

interesting and infusing learning with

meaning produce kids who can pay much

better attention so I spent a lot of

time going to Progressive schools for

the book to see this in practice for

example I went to a school in Berlin

called the evangelicia Schuler zentrum

which has this fascinating model so they

start every school year by looking by

getting the kids to talk about something

they find interesting so when I was

there they'd come up with a question

could human beings ever live on the moon

it's an elementary school they're young

kids right and then half of all the

lessons they do are exploring this from

different questions so they learn the

history of people going to the moon and

going to space they learn the math of

how do rockets get to the moon how would

you build they learn the science of like

cat how do you bring oxygen to the moon

and because it's something a question

they wanted to answer they're so much

more plugged in to exploring it you can

see their excitement and they start

coming up with other elements they want

to explore right the difference between

that and what I got at school I imagine

you have one of these back in the days

[Laughter]

I'd love to be able to read loads of

ancient Roman texts that's because I

want now to understand it I think about

the disgrace of the fact that I was

taught languages at school I spent Seven

Years Learning those languages and I

could not speak a damn word of them now

because I was forced to do it and I

didn't care school systems infused with

meaning produce kids who are much better

able to focus the problems that you

point out is especially pronounced in

Korea it's interesting speaking to you

and hearing what you're saying Makes Me

Maybe it helps me to understand why the

Korean Edition is the best-selling

non-english language edition of the

books

yourself what it makes you realize and I

think Korea is very cutely but this is

also true in Britain the United States

many places it's how we've ended up with

a profoundly wrong conception of what

productivity is so at some level we all

know this because there's no one

watching who would want the Korean

soccer team to walk onto the match

having had five hours sleep the night

before really stressed out and anxious

and with their phone in their hand to

answer text messages that might come in

during the game no one would want that

right we all know the team will

definitely lose if you did that right

and we have to then apply that principle

to ourselves right if it doesn't make

your soccer team productive it also

doesn't make you productive so there's a

guy called Andrew Barnes you should also

have him on your podcast and introduce

these great person one day he was on a

plane and he read a study that really

shocked him in the economist or

something like that that is found that

the average office worker was actually

only focusing on their job three hours a

day so they're sitting at their desk for

eight hours a day but they're actually

only really focusing for three hours and

I thought wow this is a really bad deal

for everyone this bad deal for the

worker then they're not doing the things

they want to do and it's a bad deal for

the employer because you know you're

paying people for eight hours they're

only getting three so he decided to do

an experiment he figured if I gave

people an extra day off every week so

they only worked for four days a week

but I paid them the same as I currently

pay them to work five days if in return

they were just 40 minutes more

productive if these figures applied to

his company they're just 45 minutes more

productive then that would make up for

the extra day right and what they

discovered seems at first really odd the

company achieved more in four days than

they had in five right and this is

something that's been found everywhere

they've tried a four day week they tried

it in Toyota in Japan they had a 40

increase in productivity and again it

seems counter-intuitive Until you

realize exhausted

people are not productive foreign

let's look at Facebook's own internal

research which was leaked by a heroic

whistleblower Francis Haugen in the wake

of the election of Donald Trump and the

brexit vote in my own country which has

had a catastrophic effect on the British

economy in the aftermath of that

Facebook set up a group of its own data

scientists to figure out what did we

play a role in promoting this rage right

um and what their own data scientists

found is that Facebook's algorithm was

inherently promoting hatred and division

it's not a coincidence that our

individual attention is collapsing at

the same time as our Collective

attention right the factors that are

assaulting individual attention are

profoundly harming Collective attention

and democracy is a form of deep

attention right it requires a citizenry

that can pay attention that can think

deeply that can distinguish truth from

lies can sustain pressure on politicians

until they do the things they need to do

a society of people that can't do that

can't be a democracy being entire

internet has existed for less than 10

000 days many of these changes that

we're talking about are very recent

right lots of people watching can

remember the world before many of these

changes right we can fix this stuff if

we want to but it won't fix itself right

yes of course we want a life with lots

of Technology but we also want a life

where we can think deeply where we can

read books where our children can play

outside if we want that we can get it

right the evidence is very clear about

how to get there I've seen it being put

into practice all over the world but it

requires a shift in Psychology we need

to stop blaming ourselves and start

blaming the factors that are doing this

does and taking them on because we are

not we're not medieval peasants begging

at the court of King Zuckerberg and King

mask for a few little crumbs of

attention from their table we are the

free citizens of democracies extremely

hard one democracies in the case of

South Korea and we own our own minds and

together we can take them back if we

want to thank you

[Music]

foreign

foreign

[Music]