Digital Distractions and Misinformation

Medical professionals should be mindful of social media's impact on attention, especially for youth who already has limited ability to focus due to neurocognitive difficulties or emotional disorders. Digital distractions often interfere with academic performance. Social media interactions displace other means for youth to learn about the world and contribute to the spread of misinformation. Attentional literacy is a method of combating digital distraction and misinformation by promoting an intentional application of focus. Addressing information overload and misinformation requires individuals and institutions to actively manage attentional resources and employ thoughtful content analysis.