Andrew Yang Podcast Stolen Focus: Why You Can't Pay Attention
4 snips
Jan 24, 2022 
Johann Hari, an author and investigative journalist known for his work on social issues and addiction, discusses his book, Stolen Focus. He argues that our attention is being 'stolen' rather than lost, driven by tech addiction and surveillance capitalism. Johann shares personal anecdotes, including a transformative internet retreat, and highlights systemic solutions over mere individual efforts. He emphasizes the impacts of financial insecurity, diet, and sleep on focus and proposes reforms like banning ad-driven models and restoring childhood play. Johann inspires a call to activism for reclaiming our attention.
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Willpower Fails In An Invading Environment
- Johann Hari recounts Professor Roy Baumeister admitting he struggles with phone games despite researching willpower.
- This shows environment can overpower individual will even for experts.
Graceland Trip Exposes Phone Numbing
- Hari describes his godson's descent into constant device use and a failed childhood promise to visit Graceland.
- The trip revealed the godson's inability to stay present even at the real site.
Attention Was Stolen By Market Incentives
- Hari argues attention hasn't collapsed; it was stolen by powerful forces shaped by incentives.
- He frames social media's ad-based model as intentionally designed to commodify and capture attention.
