Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World · chapter 2 · id deep-work-c2-05-real-time-communication-tools-

“Real-time communication tools fragment attention: it takes 23 minutes and 15 seconds to refocus after an interruption, and attention spans have declined from 2.5 minutes (2004) to 47 seconds (2016).”

holdsconfidence: high⚠ extracted by pipeline, re-audit pending

Receipts

Mark, Gudith, Klocke (2008) -- The Cost of Interrupted Work, CHIFLAGGED: dead link (301)

It takes an average of 23 minutes and 15 seconds to refocus after interruption. Self-interruptions are as frequent as external ones.

Gloria Mark -- UC Irvine Attention Span Research (2004-2020)source alive

Attention spans on screens declined from 2.5 minutes (2004) to 75 seconds (2012) to 47 seconds (2016-2020). Five separate studies replicated findings.

This claim is a stable, citable object. If you can falsify a verdict, tell us — corrections are loud here.