Recently, I came across a post from writer Ewan Morrison (@MrEwanMorrison) on X, noting the increasing problem facing the arts today: phone distraction. The post references recent complaints from literature and film-study professors that students are unable to maintain attention during viewings and readings, with many unable to completely watch films or finish novels. Blame seems to center on smartphone addiction and short video apps like TikTok, which have retrained our brains to require constant stimulation from a variety of sources, in short bursts or increments.
Many rightly fear the impact on the arts created by these shortening attention spans. This concern has been echoed recently by Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, who noted that Netflix wants writers “to restate the ‘plot three or four times in the dialogue’ because viewers are on ‘their phones while they’re watching,’” as reported by Variety. The problem with people only half paying attention has become so bad, that major production companies fear low ratings for their shows and films because viewers will find the plot too confusing, boring, or difficult to understand. Obviously, having to restate the plot repeatedly throughout the story waters down and may even ruin the immersion and artistic expression. Creators may no longer be able to tell pure stories without constant consideration of the consumers’ ability to engage.
To a degree, this has been a problem for a while. Product placement within films and shows, along with gate-keeping from production and publishing companies based on social media follower count, and the growing threat of AI as a cheaper alternative to human artists all have weakened the purity of artistic expression. It is easy to fear the future of human arts.
But as I contemplated the current crisis, I wondered if video games might be the rare exception to this trend. Now if you question whether video games should be considered art, consider a deep-dive into our staff debate on this very topic here. But let’s accept for the moment that video games are indeed art, and perhaps the emerging medium of great art.
Unlike film, television, and to a lesser extent reading, which are all passive consumption, video games require constant engagement to progress forward and enjoy the unique piece of art. With single-player experiences, you cannot move forward if you are not actively engaged with the story through exploration, fighting, problem solving, etc. (Yes, some games are more akin to films with heavy cut-scenes, but most are not, particularly within the indie genre.) And even live-service games limit phone distraction through the gameplay loop and constant need to engage with the competition in front of players.
On a personal level, I truly enjoy playing video games when I need a break from the troubles of the world. The medium forces me to put my phone down, grab the controller, and engage with the virtual space in front of me. Platforms like VR make this even more true. But perhaps that’s just my experience and many folks feel differently.
Do you find yourself dealing with phone addiction or phone distraction when you play video games?
Tell us what you think! Join the conversation by commenting below or over on Boss Rush Network’s Discord, Facebook, and X.
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