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Tech · Second screen gauge
Second Screen Habit Gauge
Is your phone while watching TV or in conversation affecting focus and relationships? An honest look at whether split attention is costing something real.
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Plain-English why
Copyable takeaway
What this means
This instrument starts blank so it does not judge a made-up example before you have entered your own situation.
Formula used
Second screen cost = context_frequency × missed_content_rate + conversation_impact + retention_loss
Worked example
Someone who uses their phone throughout TV watching, regularly misses plot points, and picks up their phone during conversations — scores highly on attention cost regardless of what they're doing on the phone.
Common questions
Is second screening always bad?
No. Checking something during ad breaks, or texting while a show you're half-watching runs in the background, is different from splitting attention during conversations or content you actually care about. The question is whether it's costing something.
What does 'attention cost' mean?
Missing content you wanted to see, following conversations poorly, or being perceived as disengaged by people you're with. The habit is worth examining when these costs are regular.
Plain-English summary
Fill in the questions on the left to generate a verdict card.
This section translates the result into a short, direct takeaway rather than leaving the page at a bare number.
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