On with Kara Swisher From Trump to TikTok: Chris Hayes on the Rise of Attention Capitalism
75 snips
Jan 23, 2025 
In this engaging discussion, Chris Hayes, host of "All In with Chris Hayes" on MSNBC, delves into the concept of attention capitalism, the idea that attention is our most valuable resource. He explains how figures like Trump and Musk excel in capturing attention and its implications for our politics and media. The conversation highlights the challenges journalists face in a distraction-driven world and critiques how Democrats can learn from their opponents in the battle for public engagement. Hayes urges a rethink of our digital connections amidst growing frustrations with tech giants.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Attention as a Resource
- Attention is our most valuable resource today and the substance of life itself.
- Losing control over our attention feels like a violation, similar to having something essential extracted against our will.
The Existential Question
- Focus on the philosophical question of how we want to live, not just on empirical data about addiction and mental health.
- Question if maximizing attention extraction for profit aligns with our values, even if it doesn't cause clinical depression.
Food vs. Drugs Metaphor
- Chris Hayes compares social media's addictive nature to both drugs and food.
- He argues that food is a better metaphor due to its pervasiveness and necessity.
