Overloaded Consumption: How Much is Too Much?

I lay as I usually do in the chair at my desk with my feet up on the bed next to it with my laptop on my lap whilst messaging a friend on Facebook and listening to Spotify through my recently purchased Amazon Echo dot.

An altogether unremarkable scene you may think, until I add that at the same time I was simultaneously playing on my PS4 and in the lobby for a game. As well as having my phone mere inches from my right hand with Instagram vying for my attention beneath a tap of my fingerprint.

I became perplexed in this moment as to how completely consumed I was. My limited attention drawn to the absolute limit and not a second wasted. I reveled in the fact I was as close to full productivity in my leisure as possible.

I began to think a bit more on the topic and I think the most obvious example is switching straight to mobile (usually social media) during a TV programme adverts. The way we use our time is changing rapidly and my example of tech-overloaded leisure time is a prime example of this everyday behavioural change.

Coincidentally, the previous day, I finished Live/Love/Work/Prosper: A Fresh Approach To Integrating Life And Work by Michael Tobin. In which he mentions exactly this phenomenon.

“The average 14-year-old in Western Europe is able to absorb up to four hours of content for every hour they are actively absorbing content.”

“They come home, put the TV on, open up their laptop, text a friend, send out a message on Snapchat and listen to their favourite music. All at the same time.”

Tobin further explains that since the technology isn’t going away, our relationship to it must change. He goes on to describe that parents may feel that their kids are spending too much time on devices. But when you see the tech as a tool, the blame should be attributed to the content, not the technology.

I would put this type of overloaded consumption down to what could be called friction to consumption. In other words how difficult it is for a consumer to consume.

As I sit at my desk, my phone takes 1 second to open with 1 hand and I can have music playing in the same time by just asking Alexa. So when I am waiting to find a game on my PS4, it is only too easy to make that subconscious decision to reach for my phone and or listen to music in the meantime.

Have you had any experiences similar to this? Do your kids get home and consume 4 hours of content in every hour? I’d love to chat! If you enjoyed this, I’d really appreciate you letting me know!