The Gray Area with Sean Illing Why we can't pay attention anymore
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Feb 7, 2022 
Johann Hari, author of 'Stolen Focus,' discusses the alarming impact of technology on our attention spans. He reveals how Big Tech exploits our psyches and changing societal norms to keep us distracted. Hari delves into the effects of unhealthy dietary choices and how social media algorithms further contribute to our focus issues. He also advocates for an 'attention rebellion' and offers actionable strategies to reclaim our cognitive abilities in a rapidly distracting world, urging a collective response to counter the attention crisis.
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The Importance of Focus
- Lack of focus diminishes one's ability to achieve goals and solve problems, leading to a sense of unrealized potential.
- This is especially apparent in children, where attention deficits hinder growth and problem-solving skills.
Ozone Layer Crisis
- Johann Hari recalls the 1980s ozone layer crisis as a time of effective collective action.
- He contrasts this with today's fractured attention landscape, where such unity seems impossible.
Big Tech's Business Model
- Big Tech's business model relies on maximizing user engagement to generate ad revenue and collect user data.
- Their algorithms are designed to keep users scrolling, regardless of the content's quality or impact.
