In the episode (Jan 17th 2025) of the New York Times Ezra Klein Show “Democrats Are Losing the War for Attention. Badly.” featuring Chris Hayes, they discuss the concept of attention as a valuable resource. They examine how attention is manipulated in the political arena. They explore the idea that our attention is constantly being diverted by various stimuli. This makes it challenging to focus on important political issues. The conversation highlights the need for a radical shift in how we approach attention and its implications for democracy. You might want to listen to the episode.
I find this topic very important in our current societies that live in a system of “attention economy” online on different platforms. The discussion is ongoing about whether and how the attention economy, driven by AI, impacts elections in Western democracies. People are questioning the kind of impact it has had. While AI offers opportunities for enhanced engagement and voter mobilization, it also presents challenges. These challenges relate to misinformation, privacy, and the polarization of public opinion. Addressing these challenges requires an effort to promote transparency, accountability, and the responsible use of AI in political communication. The European Union has been actively working on policies to regulate social media platforms and enhance security. The Digital Services Act (DSA) came into full effect about one year ago (Feb 17th 2024). This introduced new responsibilities to online platforms with users in the EU. The aim is to better protect users and their rights. This includes giving users means to flag illegal activity. It also makes it easier to submit complaints and contact the platforms.
It is clear we will see many new initiatives, especially from commissioner Henna Virkkunen (Henna Virkkunen – European Commission) on the crossroads between Democracy and Technology.
While all this is “big politics,” there is also the other dimension. How are individuals coping with technology and the competition on attention? What are the psychological tricks that can be played on us? What kind of pitfalls are there?
I found these books interesting:
Chris Hayes: I Want Your Attention. I Need Your Attention. Here Is How I Mastered My Own.
Johann Hari: Stolen Focus: Why You Can’t Pay Attention–and How to Think Deeply Again
Anders Hansen: The Attention Fix: How to Focus in a World That Wants to Distract You
Daniel Kahneman: Thinking fast and slow
If I try to summarize these in four books in four short points it would be something like this:
Attention Capitalism: Our attention is commodified and exploited, leading to a cycle of distraction and superficial engagement with political messaging.
Societal and Economic Factors: Declining attention spans are not just personal failings. Broader societal and economic forces influence them.
Evolutionary Distractibility: Our brains are wired for distraction, but understanding this can help us develop strategies to improve focus.
Cognitive Biases: Our decision-making processes are influenced by both rational and emotional factors, affecting how we engage with political messaging.
So, where does this leave us?
My takeaway would be. Yes, big policies are probably helpful to some extent, but as individuals we all have the same human deficiencies. What should you do? Stay focused. Notice how different actors play tricks on you. Be aware that they use the bias for making emotional rather than rational decisions.
Georg Henrik Wrede 