Young people have always been faced with distractions, but now with computers, video games,
tablets, and smart phones, there are even more things demanding their attention. A recent study found
that more than half ofstudents –aged 8 to 18 –are distracted while doing homework, and for 56
percent of the time they are also using the Internet, watching TV, or using some other form of media.
Should we be concerned about these kinds of distractions?
Some researchers saythat one problem with these technologies is that they have a greater
impact on young people. First, young people’s brains become used to constantly switching tasks,
which makes them less able to pay attention for long periods of time. Second, some experts say that
distraction has an impact on people’s ability to think deeply.
One study looked at the computer use of students in grades 5 through 8. The researchers