Attention Merchants

Attention Merchants are companies and platforms that capture and sell our attention, much like traditional merchants sell goods. In the digital age, our attention is highly valuable, as advertisers pay to reach us through social media, websites, and apps. These businesses constantly compete for our focus by using engaging content and algorithms that keep us scrolling and watching. The concept highlights the economic model based on attention rather than direct transactions, emphasizing how our time and attention have become major commodities in today's information-driven society.