Attention Economics in the Digital Age: An Empirical Study of Attention and Digital Distractions on Productivity Impact
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31305/rrjiks.2026.v3.n1.019Keywords:
attention span, attention allocation behaviour, digital distraction, information overload, productivity impactAbstract
Attention of people was consistent many years ago, but in the present digital era, the attention span has decreased a lot, every time a notification comes, people are getting automatically distracted, sometimes even when there is no notification people could not stop them from checking the smartphone or some electronic gadget. So, understanding how attention-capturing design translates into information overload, attention-allocation behavior, and perceived productivity loss has become very important debates for management. Hence the present study focuses on Attention Economy forces (AE), Information Overload (IO), Attention Allocation behavior (AA), and perceived Productivity Impact (PI). The study also tries to understand how the companies’ are marketing and platform-design tactics that capture attention in the digital era. AE strongly predicted both IO (β = .57, p < .001, R² = .32) and AA (β = .73, p < .001, R² = .54); AA (β = .39, p = .002) and AE directly (β = .40, p < .001) significantly predicted PI, while IO's effect on PI was directionally positive but not significant (β = .13, p = .097). The full model explained a strong 69.3% of variance in perceived productivity impact (R² = .693). Supplementary inferential tests found no significant differences in any construct by gender, age group, or daily internet usage, but occupation was a significant differentiator: students reported significantly higher attention-allocation engagement and productivity impact than self-employed respondents. Digital distraction is one of the major issues which the present generation is facing as the concentration levels and focus is getting dwindled.
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