The Dangers of Digital Switching: How Our Desire for Variety Can Lead to More Boredom

Are you guilty of mindlessly switching between videos to avoid boredom? You’re not alone. A new study suggests that this habit, known as “digital switching,” can actually increase our feelings of boredom and dissatisfaction.

The research, published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology, found that when participants were allowed to switch between YouTube videos to their hearts’ content, they reported higher levels of boredom and decreased satisfaction with the videos they watched. In contrast, when they were forced to watch a single video from start to finish, they experienced more positive outcomes.

Dr. Michael Inzlicht, the study’s co-author, attributes this phenomenon to the “boredom paradox.” Despite having more entertainment options than ever before, people are actually feeling more bored. This is because the constant choice and variety we have at our fingertips can lead to feelings of overwhelm and dissatisfaction.

So, what can you do to avoid falling into the trap of digital switching? Dr. Inzlicht recommends immersing yourself in the content and increasing your tolerance for discomfort and mild distress. This means setting aside distractions and committing to watching a video from start to finish.

Additional tips include reducing external stimuli, being mindful of your desires to switch, and reflecting on how those choices make you feel. As meditation teacher Alexis Santos puts it, “It’s natural not to want to feel bored — when we’re bored, we’ve lost connection with the present moment.”

By acknowledging the impact of digital switching and taking steps to mitigate its effects, we can reclaim our attention and rediscover the joy of engaging with the world around us.