Brain Rot: Is your phone destroying your attention span?Brain Rot: Is your phone destroying your attention span?
All In The Mind
Everyone seems to have a hunch that their phone is destroying their attention span, but is there any science to back it up? In episode one of Brain Rot, we’re doing our best to focus on the topic of attention for a full 25 minutes — and find out what's actually happening in your brain every time your phone buzzes or dings. Is brain rot a real thing? Or just another moral panic? And how do you know when your own screen use has gone too far? This episode originally aired on Brain Rot, a series of the ABC podcast Science Friction. Sana will be back with all-new episodes of All in the Mind in mid-October. Guests: Anna Seirian CEO, Internet People Dr Mark Williams Professor, Macquarie University; Cognitive neuroscientist Michoel Moshel Clinical Neuropsychologist Registrar; Phd Candidate, Macquarie University Professor Marion Thain Professor of Culture and Technology, University of Edinburgh; Director, Edinburgh Futures Institute Credits: Presenter: Ange Lavoipierre Producer: Fiona Pepper Senior Producer: James Bullen Sound Engineer: Brendan O'Neill More information: Neuropsychological Deficits in Disordered Screen Use Behaviours: A Systematic Review and Meta‑Analysis - Neuropsychology Review, 2024. Do we have your attention? How people focus and live in the modern information environment - King's College London, 2022. Internet addiction-induced brain structure and function alterations: a systematic review and meta-analysis of voxel-based morphometry and resting-state functional connectivity studies - Brain Imaging and Behavior, 2023. You can catch up on more episodes of the All in the Mind podcast with journalist and presenter Sana Qadar, exploring the psychology of topics like stress, memory, communication and relationships on the ABC Listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. If you'd like to access the transcript for this episode, head to it's original webpage.
29:35•13 Sept 2025
Is Your Phone Hijacking Your Brain?
Episode Overview
- Smartphones can hijack attention with notifications, causing mental fatigue.
- Excessive screen time may lead to 'disordered screen use' affecting cognitive skills.
- Personal stories highlight the impact of tech on daily life and attention span.
- Expert insights suggest reclaiming focus through mindful tech usage.
- Historical tech panics provide context for current fears about brain rot.
“"It's creating extra work for our brains, not to mention stress."”
Ever wondered what it takes to keep your attention span intact in a world dominated by smartphones? Dive into the first episode of Brain Rot, where tech reporter Ange Lavois-Pierre tackles the modern-day phenomenon of 'brain rot'—the idea that our gadgets are eroding our ability to focus. With a blend of humour and science, this episode explores whether our phones are truly making us scatterbrained or if it's just another round of tech-induced panic.
You'll hear from Anna Sarian, a millennial who lived through the Instagram Stories revolution and found herself glued to TikTok during the pandemic. Her screen time skyrocketed to a whopping 10 hours a day, leading her to question the impact on her brain. The episode also features Dr Mark Williams, a cognitive neuroscientist, who breaks down how notifications hijack our attention and create mental fatigue.
Mick Moshel, a neuropsychology registrar, delves into the concept of 'disordered screen use,' highlighting how excessive phone use can affect our cognitive abilities. The show balances these expert insights with real-world anecdotes, painting a vivid picture of how technology is reshaping our brains. But don't worry, it's not all doom and gloom—there's hope for reclaiming your attention span! So, are you ready to find out if your phone is the culprit behind your dwindling focus?
Tune in to uncover the truth behind the buzz.
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