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Attention is the new currency, and you're richer than you think. Defining the Attention Economy, planning my unlikely escape, and rethinking my career. Yikes!
In the buzz of the digital age, the term "Attention Economy" has been making the rounds. Sound familiar?
It's a game-changer. The concept that our attention is like a currency with real value in dollar signs wakes me up from my digital coma. Companies are making big bucks out of our clicks, reads, and reacts. (Our data, too! But that’s another post. Haha!)
I’m conscious of it now every time I clean up my inbox or when an ad catches my eye enough to ‘swipe to learn more’. I think about it when I decide what ideas to learn about; which views to take in; who to spend time with; what experiences to collect…
So I’m sharing this uncomfortable thought with you.😆
Attention Economy 101
Simply put, the attention economy recognizes that your focus is a hot commodity. From scrolling social media to captivating ads, everyone wants a piece.
Browsing through the UN's files, I found this:
Davenport and Beck (2001) first define the "economics of attention" as an approach to the management of information that treats human attention as a scarce commodity and applies economic theory to solve various information management problems. We are increasingly living in an “attention economy” rather than an “information economy”.
We have algorithms that know what make us tick and click. Marketing folks like me study best practices to grab eyeballs with sticky headlines and content. (EEPS! Sorry!) Everything seems optimized to attract and constantly tug at our focus.
Listening to the Let's Appreciate podcast on the topic, I came across this disturbing thought:
“The Attention Economy has monetized distraction.” —
Yikes! Content isn’t just competing for our attention but earning points for distracting us from what really matters. If we lose track of what that is, or if we never took the steps to discover what adds value to our lives, it’s easy to fall into the deep end. After all, our screens and our notifications are the newest, coolest, most socially acceptable drug of the 21st century.
Planning My Escape
What’s our best defense? Awareness and intentionality.
Decide where your attention goes and get back in the driver's seat. Easy, right? Nope. It takes a strong will, repetition, and probably some neuroplasticity tricks to master it. (Neuroplasticity is one of the other concepts I’ve been obsessed with lately!)
I started this newsletter after reading the book Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport. I was supposed to redesign my digital life by deciding the value I wish to gain from each app or tool and get rid of everything that does not serve me.
I haven’t done that. I should start! It gave me steps that includes a 30-day detox from non-essential apps and gadgets.😳 Kaya ko kaya?! I’ll never know ‘til I try.🤔
Confessions of an Attention Seeker
In the grand theater of the attention economy, I must confess my role as both victim and perpetrator. Having spent 15 years in the realm of marketing and communications, I've been a cog in the vast machinery competing for your focus. Guilty as charged.
The itch to exit the social media game has been persistent, and now, even infiltrating your inbox leaves me with a tinge of guilt. Yet, amid my Descartes-inspired doubt-everything phase, two truths have emerged.
Effective marketing wields power. Capturing your attention is not just a goal; it's a responsibility. Once achieved, the duty shifts to delivering content that enriches rather than distracts, a principle I will now carry into my professional journey.
But most importantly, I am profoundly grateful for YOUR time and attention. In a world bombarded by digital noise, your decision to engage with my content is a choice I don't take lightly. Your attention is a precious gift.
As we ride the waves of this new era where attention is a currency, I wish for all of us a life rich in meaningful connections and exhilarating, real-world experiences that triumph over mindless distractions.
Thank you, thank you for being a part of this journey and entrusting me with your attention. It means the world.♥️
