Attention Spans – Dr Patrick Clarke


Has the internet ruined our attention spans?
Thanks to the constant stream of information, endless notifications, and explosion of rapid-fire, short-form content, are we losing our capacity for sustained focus and deep concentration?
In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Patrick Clarke, a Clinical Psychologist and Associate Professor at Curtin University.
We discuss:
00:00 Introduction to Attention and Digital Devices
02:48 Understanding Types of Attention
09:20 Attention Span in the Digital Age
11:00 Research Findings on Attention Over Time
13:10 The Impact of Interest on Focus
15:13 Switching Tasks and Focus
17:44 Brain Plasticity and Adaptation
21:40 Social Media and Short-Form Content
23:27 Cognitive Engagement and Anxiety Levels
24:12 The Impact of Short-Form Content
27:07 Social Media's Influence on Mental Health
30:46 Digital Interactions vs. Real-Life Relationships
32:38 Strategies for Improving Focus
38:38 Reassessing Attention Span Concerns
Let us know what else you’d like us to look into, or just sayhello at www.ruinedbytheinternet.com

Patrick Clarke
Academic / Associate Professor
Patrick Clarke is a Clinical Psychologist and Associate Professor at Curtin University. His research focuses on the cognitive and emotional effects of digital media use, with a particular interest in how social media behaviours intersect with mental health. Patrick has published widely across both experimental and applied domains and compliments his academic responsibilities with clinical practice.