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TBD | Can You Pay Attention, Please?

15 snips
Feb 16, 2025
In this engaging discussion, Chris Hayes, MSNBC news anchor and author of "The Siren's Call," explores the complexities of attention in today’s digital age. He delves into how the 'infinite scroll' not only captures our focus but also raises questions about mental health and recognition in social media. Hayes highlights the tension between meaningful engagement and distractions, emphasizing the need for mindfulness. He also examines the implications of technological influence on journalism and society's relentless pursuit of attention.
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INSIGHT

Types of Attention

  • Chris Hayes explains different types of attention: voluntary, involuntary, and social.
  • Social attention, crucial for human connection, gets exploited by online platforms.
INSIGHT

Unilateral Social Attention

  • Online mentions feel like human interaction, but they're unilateral and unhealthy.
  • This constant, one-sided attention from strangers can be detrimental, similar to the effects of fame.
ANECDOTE

UVA Attention Experiment

  • A UVA experiment showed people prefer self-administered shocks to being alone with their thoughts.
  • Chris Hayes links this to internet behavior.
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