A study recently revealed that too much screen time has been linked to ADHD. The subject for the study was teens age 15 to 17. Imagine if they had studied adults who were never screenagers. I shudder to think what they’d discover screens do to the 45+ year-old mind. Visions of a frying pan with cracked eggs come to mind, along with the tagline “This is your brain on Electronic Devices.“
Don’t believe me? Why, just last week, I wanted to download one single photo from my facebook album. A quick little task, right?
An hour and 43 minutes later, I was still on facebook.
In fact, during that one visit, I’d ordered a licorice bouquet for a friend, learned why some people are far more appetizing to mosquitos than others, watched the latest James Corden Carpool Karaoke, bookmarked a recipe for curry-flavored mojitos, and booked a trip to Iceland, in spite of the fact that their main industry is fish processing. It must have been the promise of all that snow and ice, because we just don’t get enough of it during winters in Rochester. Or maybe it was the fact that 70% of the residents actually believe in elves. You just gotta visit a place like that.
But of course, I still had not downloaded my photo.
Facebook and other social media companies make money from the ads they serve up to users. Honestly, I think they’d make far more money if they could figure out how to make money every time someone gets sidetracked. Yes, I mean sidetracked when using social media, but I also mean every time someone gets sidetracked when the electronic device-inspired ADHD kicks in, in real life.
Maybe you can identify with this:
Me, looking for the keys in the bottom of my purse: “Oh here’s the BJ’s receipt I was being held ransom for at the exit…Okay, who dumped a piggy bank into the bottom of my purse? Drat, my wallet’s open…Yikes! I still have to mail this check to the IRS! No wonder my bank account’s not on life support yet……Ugh, purses should not wear red lipstick!…Tissues! Must put in tissues before movie. They should come up with a tissue rating for films….Oh no, I shouldn’t have put these earrings in here! Now one’s broken. Who do I know who had her nose pierced recently to give the other to?…Ah, that’s where that cat toy went….
My husband, from the other room: “Hon, you’re gonna be late! Did you find your keys, or do you wanna borrow mine?”
Me: “Keys. Right. That’s what I was looking for.”
They’d make a fortune.
Out on a Limb 