Now I’m no doctor—which are words you should always fear—but some prescriptions for the skimming condition seem pretty clear. Most generally, try an attitude shift. Before opening a link, consider whether you are willing to commit the amount of time necessary to truly engage with that content. Stop F-shaped reading.
For the video lover: Never, under any circumstances, skip ahead on the red bar. Pick a video that you’ll watch from start to finish, or don’t pick a video at all.
For the article lover: Read every word of every article that you pull up. If you open up 31 tabs, you better find a comfortable place to spend a few hours.
The Internet has infinite interesting material to offer, but unless you approach websites with mindful resolve, you’ll risk skimming through important information and, potentially, skimming through your life.
Don’t do it for the Vine; do it for yourself.
Sam Danello ’18 is a Crimson editorial writer living in Grays Hall.