In contemporary society, digital technology has fundamentally reshaped how individuals process information, manage attention, and regulate cognition. Bengaluru, Karnataka — India's technology capital — presents a unique socio-digital milieu where both Gen Z (born 1997–2012) and Millennials (born 1981–1996) demonstrate distinct patterns of digital engagement, distraction, and cognitive functioning. This quantitative cross-sectional study compared digital fluency, digital distraction, and cognitive failures between Gen Z and Millennial adults in Bengaluru. Data were collected through a structured online survey from 60 adults (38 Gen Z, 22 Millennials) using a purposive/convenience sampling approach. Results indicated that Gen Z reported significantly higher digital distraction than Millennials (p = .044), but the two cohorts did not differ significantly in digital fluency, cognitive failures, or self-reported screen time (all p >.05). Across the combined sample, digital distraction was strongly and positively correlated with cognitive failures (r =.62, p < .001), while digital fluency showed negligible association with distraction, cognitive failures, or screen time. These findings suggest that digital distraction — rather than fluency or overall screen exposure — is the variable most closely tied to everyday cognitive lapses, and that this pattern holds broadly across generational cohorts. Findings offer practical insights for counselling psychology, workplace well-being, and digital mental health interventions across generational cohorts in urban India.

T. S. Ambika,"Digital Fluency, Distraction and Cognition: A Comparative Analysis of Gen Z and Millennials With Reference to Bengaluru, Karnataka" International Journal of Advanced Multidisciplinary Research and Educational Development, V2(5): Page(139-145) September - October 2026. ISSN: 3107-6513. www.ijamred.com. Published by Scientific and Academic Research Publishing.