Chris Hayes, host of All In with Chris Hayes on MSNBC and author of The Siren's Call, dives into the fascinating dynamics of the attention economy. He discusses how our devices are designed to capture our focus, turning attention into a commodity. Hayes draws parallels between ancient myths and modern distractions, addressing the struggle for genuine engagement in journalism. He also highlights the urgent need for regulations to protect young people from corporate exploitation and shares insights on mindful consumption in a digitally distracted world.
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insights INSIGHT
The Siren's Call
The word "siren" has two meanings: the mythical creatures and the devices on emergency vehicles.
Both compel attention, reflecting the struggle to manage attention in contemporary life.
insights INSIGHT
Defining Attention
Attention involves focusing, filtering stimuli, and directing thoughts.
It includes conscious, involuntary, and social dimensions.
insights INSIGHT
Attention as Substance of Life
Attention is the substance of life; how we direct it shapes our experiences.
In a secular context, life is defined by where we choose to focus our attention.
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How Attention Became the World's Most Endangered Resource
Chris Hayes
In The Sirens' Call, Chris Hayes delves into the impact of the attention economy on our lives, politics, and society. He argues that the constant assault from attention-seeking technologies and media has fundamentally altered our ability to focus and has significant implications for our mental health, social structures, and political landscape. Hayes draws on a wide range of sources, including philosophers, media theorists, and psychologists, to provide a holistic framework for understanding and reclaiming control over our attention in a world dominated by 'attentional warlordism'[1][3][4].
Where is your attention right now? Where was it a minute ago? A second ago? Where will it be a minute from now?
One of the primary features of this age — the age of the internet and smartphones and algorithmic feeds — is that our attention is everywhere and nowhere at the same time.
This is no accident. Our devices and apps are engineered to constantly alert us to things that are important and to things that are not. That’s because holding our attention is valuable. The time we spend reading, watching, and listening to content on our digital devices has been commodified, and that commodity is fueling the economy of the digital age.
The Gray Area with Sean Illing 
