Difference between revisions of "Attention Economy"
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In the mid-1980sMr. Michael Goldhaber, a former theoretical physicist, had a revelation. He was obsessed at the time with what he felt was an information glut — that there was simply more access to news, opinion and forms of entertainment than one could handle. His epiphany was this: One of the most finite resources in the world is human attention. To describe its scarcity, he latched onto what was then an obscure term, coined by a psychologist, Herbert A. Simon: “the attention economy.”<ref>Charlie Warzel, ''I Talked to the Cassandra of the Internet Age'' New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/04/opinion/michael-goldhaber-internet.html</ref> | In the mid-1980sMr. Michael Goldhaber, a former theoretical physicist, had a revelation. He was obsessed at the time with what he felt was an information glut — that there was simply more access to news, opinion and forms of entertainment than one could handle. His epiphany was this: One of the most finite resources in the world is human attention. To describe its scarcity, he latched onto what was then an obscure term, coined by a psychologist, Herbert A. Simon: “the attention economy.”<ref>Charlie Warzel, ''I Talked to the Cassandra of the Internet Age'' New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/04/opinion/michael-goldhaber-internet.html</ref> | ||
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| + | Simon is the same person that wrote the first [[Artificial Intelligence]] program with Newell and Shaw.<ref>History of Information, ''Newell, Simon & Shaw Develop the First Artificial Intelligence Program 1955 to 7/1956'' https://www.historyofinformation.com/detail.php?id=742</ref> | ||
==Problems== | ==Problems== | ||
Revision as of 16:04, 10 April 2025
Definition
The Attention Economy refers to a concept where attention is treated as a scarce and valuable resource, much like money or time. In this framework, various entities—such as companies, advertisers, social media platforms, and content creators—compete to capture and retain people's attention.
Context
Herbert A. Simon, psychologist and economist, introduced the concept of the attention economy in 1971. He observed that in an information-rich world, attention becomes a scarce resource. Simon famously stated:[1]"A wealth of information creates a poverty of attention."
This idea highlights the challenge of managing human attention amidst the overwhelming abundance of information. Simon's insights laid the foundation for understanding how attention is allocated and valued, especially in the digital age.
This concept has gained prominence with the rise of the internet and digital technologies, where our limited attention spans are constantly being divided among endless streams of notifications, advertisements, and content. Platforms often use algorithms, clickbait, and personalization to maximize engagement because attention drives revenue, whether through ad impressions, subscriptions, or sales.
While the attention economy fuels innovation and connectivity, it also raises concerns about distraction, information overload, and how much control users truly have over their time. The debate continues around how to balance these dynamics for societal well-being.
In the mid-1980sMr. Michael Goldhaber, a former theoretical physicist, had a revelation. He was obsessed at the time with what he felt was an information glut — that there was simply more access to news, opinion and forms of entertainment than one could handle. His epiphany was this: One of the most finite resources in the world is human attention. To describe its scarcity, he latched onto what was then an obscure term, coined by a psychologist, Herbert A. Simon: “the attention economy.”[2]
Simon is the same person that wrote the first Artificial Intelligence program with Newell and Shaw.[3]
Problems
The power of parents
Solutions
References
- ↑ Ally MINTZER, Paying Attention: The Attention Economy Berkeley Economic Review 2020-03-31 https://econreview.studentorg.berkeley.edu/paying-attention-the-attention-economy/
- ↑ Charlie Warzel, I Talked to the Cassandra of the Internet Age New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/04/opinion/michael-goldhaber-internet.html
- ↑ History of Information, Newell, Simon & Shaw Develop the First Artificial Intelligence Program 1955 to 7/1956 https://www.historyofinformation.com/detail.php?id=742
