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Matt Bowe
Scott Merrow
WRIT 1301
10/19/14
Multitasking Unveiled
Fast Entertainment and Multitasking in an Always-On World is an essay
published by S. Craig Watkins, who claims that, Like fast food, fast entertainment is easy to
get, all around us, and typically cheap, but not always good for you (143). Throughout his
essay, Watkins focuses on media multitasking and the effects multitasking is having on younger
generations, unveiling information that has been misleading to the general population for years.
Watkins correctly explains that multitasking has negative effects on health, performance,
efficiency, and proficiency.
Watkins opens his article listing several ways people access media, demonstrating
how media is easy to access and all around us. With media at the fingertips of nearly every
individual, people use media as a multitasking tool, so much so that Watkins proclaims,
Innovative as ever, the one sure way for young people to use media and technology they own is
to use it simultaneously (145). Watkins researches survey results, all of which confirm that the
majority of tweens, teens, and college students do media multitask. With multitasking being so
popular, Watkins asks his readers, is media multitasking effective? More importantly, is it
healthy? (147). Watkins researches the answers to these questions and explains his findings in
depth.
A recent study pertaining to the effects of multitasking claims, Cutting-edge research is
beginning to confirm what some say is obvious: doing several things at once actually reduces
task efficiency and proficiency (148-149). Research results have concluded that multitasking

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isnt as proficient or efficient as many think. Researchers from Vanderbilt University agree,
finding evidence the brain doesnt handle multitasking well. Watkins comes across one last
answer that differs from the others, continuous partial attention, CPA, that is defined by former
Apple researcher Linda Stone as, an always-on, anywhere, anytime, anyplace behavior that
involves an artificial sense of constant crisis. We are always on high alert when we pay
continuous partial attention (150). CPA is a neurological implication that is linked to lapses in
attention and is clearly a negative health effect linked to multitasking. The essay closes with an
overall message that, despite what many people think, multitasking has negative effects on
health, proficiency, performance and efficiency.
I read Watkins essay and came to the conclusion that I agree with him. Watkins held a
strong case throughout the entire essay with supporting evidence from surveys, researchers, and
interviews, all of which are reliable resources. Studies show the brain cant take on multiple
tasks at the same time very well. My personal experiences strengthen his argument. When I do
homework while multitasking I feel distracted, and certainly notice worse efficiency,
proficiency, and performance trying to balance two or more tasks at a single time. The bit on
CPA caught my eye. This state of attention wears down the mind and may be linked to severe
attention lapses, another reason to side with Watkins. Now, some readers may question Watkins,
arguing that he is ignoring smaller tasks, like watching television and eating dinner. This is a
valid argument, but Watkins has an answer, In some situations multitasking say, responding
to e-mails while eating lunch may be quite useful to manage a busy day (P. 149). Watkins
does hit on the point that for smaller tasks, it may be alright to multitask. However, he continues
his essay to put emphasis on larger tasks, where negative effects on performance, efficiency,
proficiency, and health may occur when attention is set on multiple tasks at once.

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Watkins unveils the negative effects of multitasking, both related and unrelated to media
consumption, and supports his case with evidence from, surveys, researchers, and interviews, all
of which are reliable resources. Watkins pin points that multitasking can have negative effects on
performance, efficiency, proficiency, and in some cases, even health. The reader finishes reading
the essay with a sense of newly gained knowledge that stands apart from the commonly assumed
idea that multitasking is beneficial.

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Works Cited
Watkins, S. Craig. "Fast Entertainment and Multitasking in an Always-On World." Signs of Life
in the USA. 7th edition. Eds. Boston, New York: Bedford/St. Martins, 2012. 142-151.
Print.