Meta just dropped its Ray Ban Display AI Glasses, promising to make your phone feel like a fossil. But this is what no one’s really talking about: for people with ADHD, or anyone who already struggles with attention, this might actually make life harder, not easier.
The hype is real: Meta just dropped its Ray Ban Display AI Glasses, promising to make your phone feel like a fossil. With a built-in lens display, a Neural Band wristband that reads your hand signals, and enough futuristic flair to make Tony Stark jealous, this is Meta’s boldest step into wearable AI.
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But this is what no one’s really talking about: for people with ADHD, or anyone who already struggles with attention, this might actually make life harder, not easier.
The Promise
At first glance, the glasses sound dreamy:
Step-by-step guides floating in your vision.
Live translation and captions at dinner.
Subtle finger gestures that swap screens or messages.
Sunglasses that still look like, well… sunglasses.
Meta pitches this as “freeing you from your phone.” Endless scrolling just replaced with quick micro interactions that feel natural.
The ADHD Problem
Here’s the thing: people with ADHD don’t struggle because there’s too little information, they struggle because there’s too much. Every ping, every notification, every flashing bit of text is a potential rabbit hole.
So imagine wearing glasses that put notifications literally in your line of sight. You’re cooking? Boom, a message bubble appears. Walking to class? Suddenly, an AI guide pops up with “helpful tips.” Studying? Good luck ignoring that live caption feed drifting across your lens.
Instead of reducing friction, the glasses risk becoming the ultimate distraction machine. It’s like strapping your group chat, your Google Maps, and your TikTok feed directly to your eyeball.
For ADHD brains that crave novelty but struggle with focus, it’s cognitive quicksand.
When Tech Doesn’t Heal
This is part of a bigger pattern in tech: new devices rarely solve attention problems. They often just repackage them. Smartphones were supposed to make life simpler, yet here we are with screen time apps and digital detox retreats.
The same risk looms with AI glasses. Without thoughtful design, like focus modes, time limited overlays, or AI that gently filters rather than bombards this tech could worsen exactly what many of us are fighting: the inability to stay present.
Food for thought
Products like Facebook and Instagram are Meta’s crown jewels in the attention economy. Both platforms are designed to maximize engagement by combining endless feeds with algorithm-driven content tailored to your interests (or impulses). On Facebook, that means a mix of personal updates, viral videos, and groups designed to keep you locked in. On Instagram, the visual-first design, Stories, and Reels create a constant cycle of novelty, where every swipe promises something more entertaining than the last. These products are finely tuned ecosystems built to optimize how long you stay, what you interact with, and ultimately, how many ads you see along the way.
In my opinion, Meta is selling more touchpoints for AI and ads. That’s the business model. And while the glasses look slick (finally, a wearable you won’t be embarrassed to wear at brunch), they’re not neutral. They shape how our brains experience the world.
For some, they’ll be a productivity hack. For others, especially those wired like ADHDers, they could be another layer of chaos.
Final Thought
Meta’s AI glasses are undeniably cool. They’re sleek, futuristic, and hint at a world where phones feel ancient. But let’s not confuse novelty with necessity.
For many of us , especially those already navigating attention struggles, these glasses don’t free us. They just bring the noise closer. Right up to our eyes.
The question isn’t just “Would you wear them?” It’s “Do you really need them?”
