Why the internet is destroying our attention spans and love of books

There is something about everyday life that stops me from reading. I'd like to say it's because I'm too busy, but that would be lying. I believe the answer lies in modern technology, notably the internet. I blame it entirely for making me have the attention span of a four year old and not to mention ever too busy, doing quite literally nothing but looking at old friend's Facebook pages, to even attempt the challenge of reading a book. Four hundred pages of my attention, I personally feel, deserves me receiving a medal upon completion. I think it's the brightness of a laptop screen that draws me in, as opposed to me looking at a yellowing page in which the text is fading after years of sitting on a shelf. Maybe a Kindle could solve this, but alas I do not have a Kindle right now.

Is it not sad to know that newspapers are a dying breed? That a newspaper corporation (The Independent) actually had to create a smaller "bite-sized" read for consumers? Maybe I've lost numerous readers already due to the daunting length of all this text. I will I have to admit however, I do prefer the portion size of The I in comparison to lengthy broadsheets. The reason for newspapers and perhaps the old fashioned hobby of reading dying is only because we, as a nation, a global community and a world have become used to receiving small chunks of information at a time. How does this tie in to the internet? I hear you ponder. Here is the thinking: if you're anything like me, the first thing I do when I open up the internet is open up a tab for this blog, a tab for Twitter, a tab for Facebook, a tab for AOL mail and a tab for my university email. It's almost become routine. So, with an initial thought to just check on my blog, I end up automatically opening five tabs, if not more. I instantly multi-task, without necessarily knowing it. I constantly flick tabs, because after looking at my ever expanding wish-list on ASOS, suddenly I want to know the definition for 'insouciant' and then I need to use Wikipedia to verify all the useless bits of information I've discovered. 

So yes, the prospect of reading does indeed seem daunting to some nowadays. I am however proud to declare that I overcame this issue recently and in the past month I have read three-and-a-bit books. (Granted two of those were on holiday, but give me some credit.) I think it's important to take time out of your day, away from your computer, laptop or iPhone, to indulge yourself with a book, or even a magazine if that's all your day can really fit in. Maybe not the I'm-marrying-my-dad-and-my-mum's-my-bridesmaid ones though, because I hate to say it but they are actually just picture books with captions. Buy a content heavy one, and just enjoy an excellent past time. I guarantee you'll feel relaxed and at peace with the world afterwards. Well, maybe not the latter. I never said I was a miracle worker.

They should give you a bin with your next Apple purchase.

My sister treated herself to iPod the other day, an iPod touch to be precise. I’ve got a touch myself, only the battery on it is somewhat temperamental (even though I’ve only had it for one year – but that’s another story). The difference is that her iPod touch it isn’t the same as mine.  It’s got a camera on it for starters. The screen is so much brighter and more crystal clear than mine. And I’m confident in saying the games work better and look nicer on her model. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a teeny bit jealous. It got me thinking though about how many iPods my sister and myself have had between us over the years. I’d hazard a guess at throwing out the number 6, so that’s 3 each. 3 iPods each over the period of say 6 or 7 years... that’s extortionate. It’s not like they have broken each time between buying an upgrade, it’s just the fact the new ones look nicer – no one wants to be seen carrying the old model now do they? Only recently I threw out my perfectly adequate alarm clock come iPod speakers because my speakers “did not support the iPod model”.

Apple has so cleverly created a culture of conspicuous consumption and planned obsolescence whereby we feel the need to keep up with the Jones’, so to speak, in always demanding the latest model of iPods, iPhones and nearly every gadget or piece of clothing in our household. Having last season’s iPod is unheard of - I mean seriously. Take for instance the “new iPad”. Not the iPad 3, the new iPad. They can hardly keep numbering them with the rate they’re bringing the new ones out, because then people would actually start to notice the speed at which they throw away £500 worth of perfectly fine and working equipment. So what was new about this launch? The HIGH RES SCREEN. Wow. I know what I’ve been missing out on now. Spare a thought for the iPad 1 and 2 users though, because the new apps being released seem to be conveniently only working with high res iPads. The more Apple isolates you and your beloved first generation iPad with less apps being available to you on the app store, the more you’re going to want have to buy the sparkly new iPad.

Apple seem to be able to do this with just about every product they offer. Older models start to slow down, so that must mean they’re broken of course. Note to self: must buy new model. With the launch of the iPhone back in 2007, the convergence of a phone and an iPod only secures Apple’s knowledge that once you’ve had an iPhone you’re going to stick with the brand and become loyal customers. Think of the hassle of having to actually carry around your iPod and your phone if it wasn’t for the god-sent arrival of an iPhone...  

So maybe Apple should start providing bins with their purchases, because I can guarantee in the space of 6 months it’ll be full of old, out-dated technology.