The Rise of the Attention Industry

This compilation of texts traces the evolution of the attention economy, beginning with early forms like newspaper advertising and Parisian posters in the 19th century. It highlights how mass attention was first strategically harnessed by British propagandists during WWI, a technique later adopted by industry and amplified by new media like radio and television. The sources explore various strategies for capturing and reselling attention, from celebrity endorsements and niche targeting to the rise of social media and viral content, demonstrating a continuous push to integrate commercial appeals into daily life despite periods of consumer resistance and disenchantment. Ultimately, the collection illustrates how the capture of human attention transformed from localized efforts to a pervasive force shaping media, commerce, and even the public sphere.