In the popular Disney/Pixar movie Up, the lovable dog Dug wears a special collar that translates his thoughts into human speech; a running gag throughout the film, echoed by those who can relate, is his easy distractibility, often mid-sentence, prompting his famous exclamation: “Squirrel!”
The extensive influence of social media in modern society bears an undeniable correlation to what might be called the “squirrel” mentality—a profound and increasing distractibility. We may be engaged in a focused task or physically present in a room conducive to genuine interpersonal communication when, suddenly, the electronic equivalent of a scattered thought intervenes: a notification, “snap,” or an alert. This phenomenon extends beyond any one specific app or cell phone brand; it encompasses a myriad of platforms and the simple, compulsive urge to continuously glance at our devices for new messages, in essence disrupting our sustained attention and presence—- and if by chance we want to break the cycle, there are friends and family that might get upset if we don’t respond and/or engage in a timely fashion….so the cycle continues. What gets your attention?