This was a central plot point of the film adaptation of "Johnny Mnemonic". From Wikipedia:

> In 2021, society is driven by a virtual Internet, which has created a degenerative effect called "nerve attenuation syndrome" or NAS.

Even more hilariously given the purveyors of the distractions we're discussing in this thread:

> Megacorporations control much of the world, intensifying the class hostility already created by NAS.

Bread and circuses, etc. I believe that given our cultural trajectory one's ability to lint their cognitive intake (that is keep TikTok/Insta/YouTube/podcast garbage viewership to a minimum) will be a large predictor of success. The next generation of doctors and Nobel Prize winners probably won't be watching boobies videos and Minecraft play-throughs.