The Impact of Digital Distraction on the Decline of Students' Emotional Focus in Class

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FORMOSA NEWS

Lucky Dewanti from Universitas Muhammadiyah Bogor Raya published research in August 2026 examining how digital distraction triggers a decline in students' emotional focus and social interaction within the classroom environment. This research is highly critical because the phenomenon of device addiction not only disrupts cognitive concentration but also damages emotional engagement and social dynamics in modern education.

Massive digital transformation has reshaped the educational landscape through the use of gadgets and the internet. However, this ease of technology access gives rise to the phenomenon of digital distraction, where students' attention is diverted from core learning materials due to ongoing online activities.

To address this issue, the study employed a narrative literature review approach by synthesizing various scholarly articles, academic books, and institutional reports from prominent international databases such as Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar.

The main findings of this study indicate several important aspects:

• The primary forms of digital distraction include social media use, instant messaging, entertainment applications, notifications, and media multitasking.
• Device notifications proved to be one of the most dominant sources of disruption that breaks students' learning concentration in class.
• This constant distraction causes students to be physically present but emotionally absent, thereby reducing learning enthusiasm.
• Empathy, interpersonal sensitivity, and the quality of communication between students and teachers weaken due to reduced face-to-face contact.
• Social dynamics and peer group cohesion experience a decline caused by attention fragmentation resulting from devices.

According to Lucky Dewanti from Universitas Muhammadiyah Bogor Raya, this challenge proves that digital distraction is not merely a technical issue of device usage, but a profound socio-emotional challenge. Schools and educational institutions are encouraged to implement balanced strategies by integrating technology management, social-emotional learning, and the strengthening of meaningful face-to-face interactions.

Author Profile

• Lucky Dewanti – Researcher from Universitas Muhammadiyah Bogor Raya, Indonesia, focusing on educational dynamics, technology, and social interaction in the classroom.

Research Source

• Article Title: Digital Distraction and the Decline of Student Emotional Focus in Classroom Interaction
• Journal Name: Journal of Educational Analytics (JEDA), Vol. 5 No. 3, August 2026, pp. 684-697
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.55927/jeda.v5i3.37