The Attention Economy: Analytical Essay

In today’s modern society, there is always some kind of development in the technology. Whether that’s a new iPhone or a new trending app, everyone seems to be fascinated about the use of technology. But it is highly discussed if the use of the smartphone and the internet have taken too much control over our lives, in this context the term ‘’attention economy’’ is used and describes how our smartphones affect our everyday life. Even the generations that didn’t grew up with smartphones and the internet has greatly adopted the use of the new technology. But what did this generation do before the internet? Is it different from the way people today socialize and use their spare time? This is a subject Bjorn Nansen speaks about in the video ‘’it’s People Like Us, The Attention Economy’’ and a subject Leah McLaren examines in her article “Innocence lost: what did you do before the internet? An article from The Observer website, 2019. In this essay through a rhetorical analysis, it will firstly focus on the style of writing especially in the lines 84-96. Secondly It will focus on the use of contrast in the article, and lastly there will be a discussion regarding the consequences of the attention economy.