While boredom is generally viewed in a negative way, previous research has shown that it can be effective, as the act of our mind wandering can result in new ideas and fresh thinking. Alas, research from the University of Bath shows that social media means that this isn’t always the outcome.

The researchers explain that it is not superficial boredom that results in heightened creativity, but profound boredom, and the use of social media can prevent us from progressing from one state to the other.

“Profound boredom may sound like an overwhelmingly negative concept but, in fact, it can be intensely positive if people are given the chance for undistracted thinking and development,” the researchers explain. “We must recognize that the pandemic was a tragic, destructive, consuming experience for thousands of less fortunate people, but we are all familiar with the stories of those in lockdown who found new hobbies, careers or directions in life.”

Exploring boredom

The researchers used the unique circumstances presented by the pandemic, and the lockdown measures that accompanied it, to explore the impact of superficial and profound boredom. They highlight that superficial boredom is the most common and can be thought of as a sense of restlessness and boredom with a particular situation. Such circumstances often provoke us to turn to social media to alleviate the boredom.

Profound boredom, on the other hand, comes from an abundance of uninterrupted time, usually spent in relative solitude. It’s a state that can result in apathy, indifference, and even a questioning of our sense of self. It’s a sense that can also trigger creativity, however.

“The problem we observed was that social media can alleviate superficial boredom but that distraction sucks up time and energy, and may prevent people progressing to a state of profound boredom, where they might discover new passions,” the researchers say.