In this digital world, students are exposed more than ever before to a multiplicity of technology: smartphones, social media, entertainment, and other digital artifacts. Most of these have ameliorating benefits that can be very empowering; however, it does create significant issues-mainly as digital distraction-the tendency to lose focus because one is constantly engaged with digital devices.
For example, a smartphone can often be considered the main source of distraction since a person can easily take time to check social media, messages, and games. Other social media applications like Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat are designed in such a way that they keep their customers active, meaning one cannot easily refrain from checking the phone at times when one is supposed to be in class or during studies, which ultimately leads to distractions and stops productivity and concentration. In addition, the apps appeal to a lot of students because instant gratification comes in the way of likes and comments on fun contents as opposed to tedious academic work that demands painstaking efforts with delayed gratification. In short, the students sacrifice their long-term academic goals for short-term digital pleasures.
Another source of distraction from digital stimuli is the multitasking illusion. Most students think they can study simultaneously with checking a text or surfing the web, but research proves that multitasking diminishes cognitive performance. Concentration is shifted between tasks because of which work is done slower and retention also decreases. Yet students tend to downplay havoc they wreak on their ability to concentrate.
For instance, these developments in digital learning have only pushed the line deeper into obscurity, such as online classes and virtual learning platforms that have greatly increased dependency on devices that can be more distracting. Attending classes in home environments full of digital temptations proved to be an even tougher challenge for students during the COVID-19 pandemic shift.
Such serious implications have led to the fact that students cannot concentrate on academics, with performance becoming lower, and cannot even present assignments due to the same reason. Digital distraction further impacts mental health: high levels of stress and anxiety along with sleep deprivation are experienced by students. Overcoming digital distraction can be made possible by introducing digital mindfulness in terms of boundaries for digital tools, deactivating all notifications, and many productivity tools that keep the students focused.
In conclusion, digital distraction must be the major challenge with today’s students and impacts not only the success in education but also well-being. It calls for the intentionality of balancing digital engagement with academic focus.
Article by
Prof. Raksha H V
