Your Attention Was Stolen
"Your attention didn't collapse. It was stolen" is an article written by Johann Hari, published in The Guardian, where Hari discusses the concept of the attention economy and how technology companies are using persuasive techniques to capture and hold our attention. He argues that technology companies are using these techniques to manipulate us into spending more time on their platforms, which has negative consequences for our well-being, relationships, and democracy.
Hari starts by explaining how technology companies are in competition to capture our attention. He argues that this has led to the young people like his godson Adam being captured and held for as long as possible by social media apps, leading to negative consequences for individual well-being and society. He describes speaking to various experts around the world about why this addiction has happened: ultimately, they convince him that the problem is social and environmental and that unless we change our environmenti.e., get rid of the Big Tech fast food for the brain social media apps that are controlling usnothing will change.
He describes the techniques used by technology companies to capture our attention, such as creating endless scroll, push notifications, and infinite feeds. He argues that these techniques are not only addictive but also have a detrimental effect on our ability to focus and concentrate. He also points out that these techniques are not neutral, but they are designed to manipulate us, and that the business model of technology companies is based on advertising and data collection, so there is a financial incentive to keep us hooked. Hari then suggests alternative business models are needed.
Ultimately, Hari argues that we should be more mindful of our own use of technology and support alternative technologies and business models that align with our values and well-being. He encourages people to take back control of their attention and to be aware of the ways in which technology is shaping our lives.
Works Cited
Hari, Johann. "Your attention didn't collapse. It was stolen." The Guardian, 2 Jan 2022.
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