Attention economy

The attention economy treats human focus as a scarce resource to be captured and monetized. Tech companies compete intensely for screen time because advertising revenue depends on eyeballs. This creates incentives to maximize engagement regardless of whether users benefit from the time spent.

Every notification, autoplay feature, and infinite scroll exists to capture attention. Social platforms profit when users stay longer, creating pressure to prioritize addictive features over helpful ones. The average person checks their phone 96 times daily, often triggered by design choices rather than genuine need.

This model has real costs. Studies connect excessive social media use to increased depression and anxiety, particularly among teenagers. Sleep quality suffers when devices compete for bedtime attention. Productivity drops as constant interruptions fragment focus.^[1] Understanding these dynamics helps product teams make better choices about what to build and how to measure success.