Memetics & Attention · Theory
The Attention Economy
Herbert Simon's insight that information consumes attention, Tim Wu's history from the penny press to the feed, how ad-funded platforms monetize engagement, the design patterns that capture you, and how to defend your own focus.
Step 1 of 6 · Overview30 min read ·
Key idea
Prereqs: Virality: why things spread. Next: Reflexivity & narratives in markets; Building an audience in public. Sources: Herbert Simon, 'Designing Organizations for an Information-Rich World' (1971); Tim Wu, *The Attention Merchants* (2016); Cal Newport, *Deep Work*.Next: 1. Scarcity flips