attention span

American  

noun

1. the interval during which an individual can concentrate, as on a single object, idea, or activity.

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Etymology

Origin of attention span

First recorded in 1930–35

Example Sentences

In 2026, when attention spans are measured in seconds, the Winter Olympic Games are feeling the consequences.

From The Wall Street Journal

The rise of short-form videos on TikTok, Instagram and YouTube—as well as our habit of using multiple devices simultaneously—has shortened our attention spans, said researchers.

From The Wall Street Journal

The state's Information Technology Minister Nara Lokesh last week said on X that children were "slipping into relentless usage" of social media, affecting their attention spans and education.

From BBC

"My feeling is that the flood of nonsense, low-quality content generated using AI might further reduce people's attention span," he says.

From BBC

They were never meant to, because the prevailing understanding is that content is primarily a feast for the eyes and shortened attention spans.

From Salon