Social media and the death of the attention span

Publication: Brock Press, Brock University, St. Catharines ON.

David Burnham- Brock Press

140 characters, six second vines, double tap - these are all phrases that the average consumer is familiar with in this day in age. Since the birth and rise in popularity of social media platforms such as Twitter, Vine, Snapchat and Instagram, all these applications have one thing in common - they are fast and straightforward. Twitter allows only 140 characters, making the user cut down anything they're saying. Vines only allow six seconds of video content. Snapchat only allows 0-10 seconds of temporary imagery. With a double tap on Instagram, everyone will know who liked whose photos online. These applications have made for easily-accessible online platforms, but it has also encouraged a detrimental change -- a terrible attention span.

It is clear that these programs are marketing to our short attention spans. In this busy society, the concept of quick is very much in demand....