“Paying” attention.

Print ads may have paved the way, but today, giants like Facebook and Google have built entire businesses on selling the attention of their users — businesses so lucrative that all of their services are offered for free.

For example, let’s say you Google Jane’s Moving Company. Now Google knows you’re planning a move and you’re more likely to pay attention to related ads. So they sell your attention to storage facilities, rental vans and rival moving companies in the form of display ads. This is only one of countless targeted methods to capture and sell your attention at a profit.

Today, marketers increasingly hire psychologists and data scientists to mine your online activity and figure out how they can capture and retain your attention — by whatever means necessary. When you’re on the web, the ads you encounter are sophisticated messages which target your desires, insecurities and fears. You can’t help but pay attention to them, and I use the word ‘pay’ quite literally. Internet platforms are selling, advertisers are buying, but you have to pay.

Why do I keep getting pick-pocketed?

If a pick-pocket sneaks up behind you and takes your wallet, they’re breaking the law. It doesn’t matter that you chose to walk on that particular street at that particular time. That pick-pocket had no right to your wallet.

You volunteer to watch a video, browse a website or use an app, and the next thing you know, an ad has stolen your attention and slipped a message into your head.

Is this any different from advertising? You volunteer to watch a video, browse a website or use an app, and the next thing you know, an ad has stolen your attention and slipped a message into your head. These ads play on your triggers and you’re wired to notice. You never agreed to this exchange. Boisterous videos, promoted search results, sponsored social posts, and relentless app notifications prey on your situation and hijack your mind. You don’t have a choice.

But remember, in today’s economy, your attention is worth money! Doesn’t it seem unfair that it’s being stolen from you so often without your permission? Maybe Banksy put it best: