Skip to: Content
Skip to: Site Navigation
Skip to: Search

October 12, 2008 4:10:50 AM CDT

Learn about Newser Points »

« Back to the grid | Next story »

Online Readers Have No Attention Span

Posted Jun 14, 08 6:30 PM CDT in Technology,  Opinion,  Arts & Living 

(Newser) – Web readers are fidgety, so writers have to serve up the goods fast, Michael Agger writes in Slate. For example:

  • Online readers are “selfish, lazy, and ruthless,” according to theorist Jakob Nielsen.
  • They are informavores hunting for information at all costs.
  • They like text short, scannable, and occasionally bold.
  • And especially love lists.

Still there? Bless you. Let’s risk a long paragraph: The web isn’t conducive to lucid reading—that is, engrossing, pleasurable reading. Books immerse you in a trance; online, you read between IMs.  So one-idea paragraphs are best.  Other tips for online writers:

  • Links look authoritative.
  • Frequent, explanatory subheads are also good.
  • Slice your word count in half.
To see more, click on the link below.

Source Slate

0 comments | Print E-mail | Digg Seed this on Newsvine Add this link to Del.icio.us StumbleUpon

Related Newser Stories

  • Does Surfing Equal Reading?

    Jul 27, 08 2:34 PM CDT
    Does Surfing Equal Reading? As kids spend more time on the internet and less time reading books, a debate is raging over whether online reading is as educational as the traditional kind, the New York Times reports. While the Web allows readers to quickly gobble up multiple perspectives and information, some experts worry that the internet-obsessed are hurting their intellectual development—which they believe is demonstrated by falling test scores.
    More »

  • Search Engines: How They're Reshaping Your Brain

    Jun 11, 08 10:42 AM CDT
    Search Engines: How They're Reshaping Your Brain Although he’s thrilled with all the time he saves using the Internet for research and awed by the vast intellectual opportunities available to every web surfer, Nicholas Carr is a bit disconcerted that he no longer has the patience for reading books or long articles. With his netizen mind fidgeting and losing the thread after a few pages, Carr wonders in the Atlantic: What is the net doing to our brains? More »

  • Is the Internet Bad News for Journalism?

    Mar 17, 08 2:15 PM CDT
    Is the Internet Bad News for Journalism? The Internet is changing journalism—but not in the ways many predicted. Contrary to expectations that coverage would broaden, a new report says the news agenda is actually narrowing. The Iraq war and presidential campaign represented more than a quarter of news stories last year, while countries besides Iraq, Iran, and Pakistan drew less than 6% of US news, reports the AP. More »

  • Blogs Find Their Audio Outlet

    Feb 28, 08 5:39 PM CST
    Blogs Find Their Audio Outlet It's no NPR yet, but the latest radio phenomenon is gathering steam—and it's not even really radio, Portfolio reports. The 18-month-old BlogTalkRadio.com lets anyone with a broadcasting itch host a show for free; users select a time slot, genre, topic and start gabbing—the audio blog even comes with a phone system that accepts live callers—who have included Brad Pitt and John Kerry. More »

This caption doesn't have any information in it, so you should just scan past it now.   (Shutterstock)
Readers are ruthless information hunters - you've probably already realized this caption is meaningless and moved on.   (Shutterstock)
Oh, and let's get one thing straight: paper isn't going anywhere, no matter what your Kindle-toting buddies are telling you.   (Shutterstock)
Book v. online reading: in one, we have a short attention span.   (Shutterstock)
One browser reads with her morning o.j.   (Shutterstock)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
Our editors also recommend:

Threads (
1
 of 2)

Tags

Internet  • reading  • online journalism


Loading...

Premium Articles from HighBeam

Find more articles like this

Today's Most Popular

Loading...

Other Arts & Living Stories

What is Newser?

2008 Codie Finalist

Newser gives you more news in less time. We search for the best and most important stories all over the web, read them for you, and deliver concise and sharp summaries—along with links to the full text. Newser provides a way to stay on top of an ever-expanding horizon of news and opinion—politics, sports, business, trends, technology, personalities, crimes, and controversies. Newser keeps you not just better informed, but, with our signature graphic interface and smart condensed format, more enjoyably informed.

Learn more »