According to a new report from Microsoft Canada, which included an online survey of more than 2,000 Canadians, as well as an observation of more than 100 study participants doing tasks while their brainwaves were measured using electroencephalography (EEG) our digital behaviours is changing rapidly.
Canadians’ digital behaviours
When nothing is occupying my attention, the first thing I do is reach for my phone
65+: 10% agree
18 to 24 y.o.: 77% agree
I check my phone at least every 30 minutes
65+: 6%
18-24: 52%
The last thing I do before I go to bed is check my phone
65+: 18%
18-24: 73%
I often use other devices while watching TV
65+: 42%
18-24: 79%
I watch more TV programs through catch-up/streamed TV than live
65+: 13%
18-24: 74%
I often watch a number of episodes of a show back-to-back
65+: 43%
18-24: 87%
How changing attention spans affect people at work/school
Really have to concentrate hard to stay focused on tasks at work/school
All: 44%
Highest among:
Early tech adopters: 68%
Heavy social-media users: 67%
18- to 24-year-olds: 67%
Heavy multiscreeners: 57%
High-volume media consumers: 55%
Get sidetracked from what they’re doing at work/school by unrelated thoughts or daydreams
All: 45%
Highest among:
Early tech adopters: 66%
Heavy social-media users: 65%
18- to 24-year-olds: 61%
Heavy multiscreeners: 60%
High-volume media consumers: 55%
Don’t make the best use of their time so sometimes they have to work late/weekends
All: 37%
Highest among:
18- to 24-year-olds: 71%
Early tech adopters: 62%
Heavy social-media users: 62%
Heavy multiscreeners: 51%
High-volume media consumers: 48%
Source: Microsoft attention spans online survey, Spring 2015, 2,000 Canadian respondents
