Do we really have goldfish attention spans?

Quick answer

'Humans now have an 8 second attention span, shorter than a goldfish.' You've seen it in talks, articles and videos. It's worth checking.

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Where it came from

BBC's investigation traced the figure to a 2015 Microsoft Canada marketing report, which cited a source that couldn't back it up. Experts told the BBC a single average attention span isn't a meaningful measure, because attention depends on the task. The goldfish part doesn't hold up either (BBC News).

What people do notice

Long videos and books feel harder after lots of short-form scrolling.
It's easy to reach for the phone during slow moments.
Focus comes back with practice, according to many people who've rebuilt it.

Train your focus

Cut back on endless feeds. See stop watching Shorts.
Build up long videos in short sessions. See focus on long videos.
Read for 10 minutes a day and add a few minutes each week.

FAQ: questions people ask

Is the human attention span really 8 seconds?

BBC traced the stat to a marketing report with a source that couldn't support it. Experts say attention depends on the task.

Do goldfish have short attention spans?

The BBC found the goldfish comparison doesn't hold up.

Can I improve my attention span?

Many people say it improves with less short-form content and gradual practice with longer reading and videos.