The Focus Report Johann Hari | How To Reclaim Your Focus and Take Control of Your Life
11 snips
May 23, 2025 
Johann Hari, a New York Times bestselling author and journalist known for his focus on attention and mental health, discusses the issues outlined in his book, Stolen Focus. He reveals how addiction-engineering tech companies undermine our attention and well-being. Hari shares insights on the collective action needed to combat these forces, likening it to past activism against leaded petrol. He emphasizes the necessity for societal changes to foster deeper thinking and creativity in an age increasingly dominated by AI and distractions.
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Attention As Our Species' Superpower
- Sustained focus is the core human superpower that enables achievement and problem solving.
- Johann Hari argues our attention didn't fail; it has been stolen by large social forces beyond individual fault.
Guilt Among Silicon Valley Insiders
- Johann Hari spent time in Silicon Valley interviewing people who built modern attention-hacking systems.
- He found many engineers felt guilty and some, like James Williams, quit and warned about the world they were creating.
Algorithms Optimize For Scrolling
- Social apps monetize attention chiefly by maximizing how long and how often you scroll.
- Algorithms scan all interactions to predict and serve content that keeps you engaged for ad revenue.
