Curious Minds: Why Can’t I Focus? The Attention Span Challenge from Gen Alpha to Boomers
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Curious Minds is where big questions meet everyday curiosity—exploring how science, technology, and imagination shape our world. From kids to grandparents, everyone can find something to spark their mind here.
If you can listen to this episode without checking your phone even once — congratulations, you’re already in the top 1% of focus champions.
From preschool classrooms in Turkey to workplace screens across the globe, attention is becoming our most fragile resource. Why can’t we focus anymore — and what can we actually do about it?
In this episode (Ep. 2): Join Preethi on Curious Minds as we explore what science says about shrinking attention spans, how early screen habits shape young brains, and why dopamine—not discipline—drives distraction. From Gen Alpha to adults, we’ll uncover how constant pings and infinite scrolls reshape memory, learning, and relationships.
And here’s the takeaway — this isn’t about quitting tech. It’s about mindful usage. Whether it’s tech-free dinners, parent–child co-play, or simply choosing one task over ten, reclaiming focus starts with small, conscious choices.
Stay curious, stay aware — because your attention is your most valuable currency in the digital age.
#CuriousMindsPodcast #WhyCantIFocus #DigitalDistraction #MindfulTech #AttentionEconomy #ScreenTime #GenAlpha #ParentingInDigitalAge #FocusNotScroll #DigitalWellbeing #PauseToFocus #NeuroscienceOfAttention #MindfulUsage #TechBalance
Sources:
“Average Daily Notifications Statistics.” MobiLoud Blog, 2025.
https://www.mobiloud.com/blog/push-notification-statistics“The Impact of Screen Exposure on Attention Development in Preschool Children.” Infant Studies Journal, 2025.
https://infantstudies.org/language-learning-in-a-digital-world-how-screen-time-impacts-childrens-language-development/“Common Sense Media: Gen Alpha Screen Time Report 2025.” Common Sense Media, 2025.
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/gen-alpha-screen-time-2025“Viral Preschool Experiment Highlights Screen-Time Impact.” Infant Studies / Turkish Preschool Case Study, 2025.
https://infantstudies.org“Adult Attention Span Decline: Neuroscience Research Update.” National Institutes of Health (NIH), 2025.
https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/attention-span-decline-linked-digital-age“Screen-Free Week Campaign Overview.” Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood (CCFC), 2025.
https://www.screenfree.org“All Digital Weeks 2025: Digital Wellbeing Initiative.” All Digital European Network, 2025.
https://alldigitalweeks.eu/home-2025/about-2025/“‘Look Up’ Viral Short Film on Social Media Distraction.” TIME Magazine, 2014.
https://time.com/88203/look-up-social-media-gary-turk/“Korean Classroom Smartphone Ban Law Passes.” Korea JoongAng Daily, 27 Aug 2025.
https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2025-08-27/national/politics/Law-limiting-student-smartphone-use-in-class-passes-in-bipartisan-vote/2385580
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