Is Our Attention for Sale? | James Williams

Do you think our attention is for sale? Is the technology we carry in our pockets distracting us from pursuing our life goals? Have we woken up to the scale of the attention-capturing and persuasive powers being held by a small number of big tech companies? In the latest RSA Short, James Williams warns of the dangers that digital distraction poses to us individually and collectively. If we’re serious about protecting human agency and democracy, he argues, it’s time we started defending our freedom of attention.


Speaker: James Williams
Director: Olga Makarchuk
Animation: Olga Makarchuk, Kim Alexander
Colouring Assistance: Anna Makarchuk
Sound: Nico Antwerp
Video Producer: Ross Henbest
Joint Head of Public Events Programme: Mairi Ryan
Intro and outro animation: Cabeza Patata

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[woosh_energy]

Whilst I can admire the creativity and lateral thinking in the production of this animation, I felt exhausted afterwards form the flashing images and bright colours! As other commenters have mentioned social media is a monster that is out of control. If it's not bombardment with 'look at me...look at MEEE' overly-filtered selfies then its pushy bullying messages of why you need this product of service in your life. Ultimate FOMO. When what we need is our human lives back, re-access our inherent abilities of critical thinking and authentic communication, living out our heartfelt passions, a practical doing of things and honest hard work. Yes, I may come across as old-fashioned or naïve or unrealistic, but is it WE - the masses - that have the power to make that change. By changing ourselves - towards an involution of who we really are. Not pushed and shoved around by external 'gunk'.

[nightoftheworld]

Neil Postman called this in the 80’s—“Amusing Ourselves to Death”

[kinfazaka]

Just found the most important video in my life right now. How did we get here! This video deserves more views than it has generated over the past 4 years.

[ryzewisdom]

Great video. And yes I definitely think our attention is for sale. So many people mindlessly use social media and don't realize that people are selling their attention. I enjoyed the video and the point. Well done ~Cyn

[whirled_peas]

A much more succinct way to convey such a point visually would surely have been to use a blank screen.

[jongibirdi]

The drawback with all this, is that even to share these ideas, we use a platform, or to sell a book we promote it online or social media. Often ads about attention are continually interrupted by ads. If you try to discuss these ideas with others theyre distracted by social media. We need a way of talking about this without social media

[Wladislav]

Goddamnit, I alt-tabbed while listening to this.

[zaynumar]

This video needs more than 29, 000 views. The video count of this video in the infinite sea of YouTube videos is the problem. "Man's infinite desire for distractions."

[shokingu]

wow! This video is amazing but not a lot of views... :(

[frankbone]

If attention is for sale then, by definition, it's not free. But the more pertinent question: is attention a proprietary effect? WHO DOES OUR ATTENTION BELONG TO IN THE FIRST PLACE? The answer: 'Our' attention is OURS. And if appropriated without our permission, it is effectively stolen, by thieves. That, in turn, gives one cause to claim on advertisers, et al ... at least for the return of our attention. Popularise that idea, James, and we may begin to make real change. Hence we float the notion of the biggest class action suit in history, that will stop the Attention Economy dead in its tracks. The argument that we choose where to direct our attention is addressed as follows: Advertisers compel us. By their own admission. They award and applaud themselves for doing so. Hence choice is negated. Furthermore, as James points out -- either here or elsewhere -- technology is not a tool, it is a pervasive environment. (Thanks for that one, sir. Most useful in this effort.) To everyone: the attention is a priceless commodity. Sell it if you like. Just don't give it away! Rather get it back. ✊

[austinm]

Yes. Americans can visit datadividendproject.com to support the movement to give us options for how companies can use our data and how we can be compensated for it.

[leonorelord]

Great Point about the pull on our attention. However, I agree that the animation was distracting

[timothybracken]

Gary V has been saying this for years.

[hannahmackinlay]

Brilliant message, awful way to deliver it. There is no way humanly possible that you can listen to and think about what he is saying while looking at a continual screen of flashing lights and colours. In fact there goes your proof of the thrust of his talk. Listen to it without looking at the pictures and you will get the message, but if you listen while staring at the video you will retain & reflect upon nothing but the title

[lovleen]

Without the distraction of the animation, heres the talk:
Thank me later.

[Danyal]

Animations of the video are distracting my attention....