The Attention Economy
Algorithmic curation designed to capture finite human vision, capitalising on the explosion of infinite media streams.
Overview
The Attention Economy was built on a simple truth: human attention is finite. In a world of infinite content, attention became the scarcest resource.
The Information Era created an explosion of content. Anyone could publish anything. The supply of information became infinite.
But human attention was limited.
Every person has only 24 hours in a day. Attention is the one resource that cannot be scaled. This created a new economy — one based on capturing and monetising attention.
Platforms competed for attention. Algorithms were designed to maximise engagement. Content was optimised for virality, not truth.
The result was a system that was addictive, polarising, and often harmful. It created enormous value for platforms — but it also created enormous friction for society.
Key Characteristics
Algorithmic Curation
Algorithms selected and prioritised content to maximise engagement. They shaped what people saw and how they engaged.
Finite Attention
Human attention was the scarce resource. Platforms competed to capture and retain it.
Engagement Optimisation
Content and algorithms were optimised for engagement. The goal was to keep people scrolling, watching, and clicking.
Polarisation
Engagement often favoured polarising content. Algorithms amplified outrage and division.
The Value and the Friction
What attention made possible
- Discovery — attention enabled discovery of content, ideas, and creators.
- Expression — attention gave voice to millions of creators.
- Community — attention enabled the formation of communities around shared interests.
- Innovation — attention fuelled innovation in media, technology, and advertising.
What attention constrained
- Addiction — the attention economy was designed to be addictive. It captured people's time and attention against their will.
- Polarisation — attention amplified division. It created echo chambers and reinforced existing biases.
- Misinformation — attention rewarded sensationalism over truth. Falsehoods spread faster than facts.
- Mental health — the attention economy harmed mental health. It created anxiety, depression, and loneliness.
The Acacia perspective:
The Attention Economy was a natural response to the explosion of content. It created enormous value — but also enormous friction. The challenge is to design systems that serve human attention rather than exploit it.
Reading path: