Eric Schmidt, the man who led Google for a decade, has just given a masterclass on something he himself helped create: our addiction to screens. In a recent interview, the former CEO was straight to the point: if you want to think deeply, switch off the phone.
The irony is delicious. Schmidt was responsible for Google’s massive growth and for the launch of Android, the operating system that popularized constant notifications and dynamic advertising. Now he acknowledges that the tech industry has monetized our attention, designing systems to capture our gaze for as many hours as possible.
The numbers he shared are alarming. The average attention span in front of a screen has dropped from two and a half minutes two decades ago to just 47 seconds today. Forty-seven seconds. Less time than it takes you to read this paragraph.
When asked how young researchers manage to work amid so many distractions, Schmidt was categorical: “They switch off their phones”. And he added something that should make us reflect: “You can’t think deeply as a researcher with that device constantly buzzing”.
But Schmidt didn’t stop there. He also criticized the meditation apps that promise to help us relax while we stay glued to our devices. “My favorites are those digital apps that make you relax”, he said ironically. “The right thing to do to relax is to switch off your phone and relax the traditional way”.
The digital wellness companies were quick to respond. Calm argued that “not all screen time is the same”, while Headspace pointed out that disconnecting isn’t always feasible for young people who have integrated technology into every aspect of their lives.
Schmidt insisted that attention is no longer a given, but a contested resource in today’s digital economy. He acknowledged the tech industry’s role in driving this model and called for rethinking how, when and how much time we spend on screens.
The message is clear: we need to build barriers and habits that allow us to work, create and rest without constant interruptions. It comes from the man who helped create the problem, so maybe we should listen to him.
