This is one of the best UA-cam videos I've ever seen. Thoughtful, careful, nuanced but still with an extremely strong and compelling point of view. Still don't know how to react (other than to subscribe!) but much to think about here. Thank you. -John
Damn, that’s high praise from J. Green hisself, I’d be shittin’. Surprised Will hasn’t replied in turn. I mean J and H are YT video essay OGs. Practically sovereign paragons.
Hey John, just wanted to let you know this comment is printed out and pasted to the front of a binder "Inspiration" -- a collection of comments and messages that remind me of the purpose of my work. Thank you.
Hey man, I so appreciate your valuable insights. I relate & share my heartiest consent with you man. We need to get & give attention for the good cause.
It's amazing how infinite information pushes to you your eager to know everything no matter if you have a limited time of hours in your life. Sometimes the best is to know exactly why you are using your mobile and be aware of any distractions.
Finally a video that examines the bad *and* good of the Internet. The Internet isn't the worst thing to ever happen to humanity that will cause thirty world wars but it's not nearly flawless. This video was analytical, unbiased and fair. Thank you for taking the effort to do this!
the internet is billions of things so it's like saying "life isnt all good or bad". for some people it is pretty alright, for some people, yes, it has all been bad. it depends what you're witnessing, how it's affecting you, and what you're using it for. using it for youtube video essays vs using it for gore and p*rn are obviously very different things.
Kid. You still don't know how internet works do you. You'll find beautiful songs with as few as less than a hundred subs. And you will also find incredible content with more dislikes than likes. Never judge a video by its likes, views, comments or anything such measure. Or even title. That's the best thing I have learned about the internet. With this rule I have found the most astounding content.
Wonderful video. You seem to be able to articulate these really heady topics in a conversational and unpretentious way that ties together threads from some of my favorite artists like DFW and Louis CK. It's impressive.
Spencer Emry hey Spencer, I really appreciate this comment. I am trying my best to be educational and heady without being arrogant. Unfortunately; that's a really hard thing to do, but I hope my audience appreciates my videos regardless
No problem, thanks for going out of your way to reply! For what it's worth, and hopefully without seeming like I'm blowing smoke up your ass, I think your obvious commitment to quality (subject matter, editing, pacing, etc.) is what sets it apart. Anybody could make a video about how full of distractions today's world is, but to make one that's this insightful, entertaining, and unassuming, is something to be proud of, and I look forward to more!
This video is so well made and thought out. What most UA-camrs do is that they say "this is a problem because of this" and then they don't really explain what one can do to solve it. You do! As well as bring attention to the good things that have come out of the "problem", in this case being addicted to constant information and reward systems in our phones/and or computers. You also said "fuck", which made me respect you more for not censoring what you really feel about it. I hope you read this, because we need more of this thing on UA-cam. Great job man.
This Channel is surprisingly good for a small channel, i love it when the videos are slow it makes a difference compared to all those videos with a billion cuts, there you have the time to grab the information and process it.
Watching this video while surfing the internet for the 3rd consecutive hour on a Friday night while all my friends are out having fun was NOT what I needed tonight. I think that means you're right
I just wanted to congratulate you for your amazing work, perfect pacing, fascinating topics, I guess this is what Adam Curtis means when he talks about what journalism should do. Please keep it up, this is great!
I just want to say that I not only do I enjoy the content of this channel, I really enjoy your style. It's a great blending of graphics and video. Nicely done!
In the years since this video has come out, companies like Apple and Android now have "Digital Wellbeing and Screen Time" features that allow you to set time limits on apps and websites, and can track how much time you've spent on each app. I don't know what the general consensus is for how effective these tools are, but I think they're an excellent step in the right direction.
I've never seen a youtube channel who's voice speaks to me so much before. Maybe it's because all the TV you mentioned in your first video are the TV shows I have grown up on, or the fact that you are a huge harmon and comedy fan, but your point of view and the mediums you use to explain your thoughts absolutely speak to me. I found your channel yesterday and you are now my favorite. Fantastic Work.
Your work is brilliant ! Concisely informational and entertaining. Your ability to cross reference data to derive ellaborate conclusions from many consituents, sparks an intellectual avant garde aura to mind. Keep it up man!
As an autistic, the internet has given me a social life that I never, ever would have otherwise. Sure, there are negatives to current tech but imho the positives are vastly overwhelming.
Really love this comment. I totally agree. The positives absolutely outweigh the negatives, but it is important to see how they (social media companies) dramatically control our worlds. We need to be careful. Thanks for the comment!
I've been struggling with this for years now. I am constantly multitasking and getting distracted. I'm thinking of going back down to 1 monitor from my current 3 so I can only have one task on screen at once, and I'm going to try to spend more time focusing on one thing at a time, and spending more time doing more in-depth tasks like long-form reading. I think meditation might also help. Thanks for your video.
As a PhD student and as an upcoming researcher, I would like to say that this video is well made with nuanced meaning and systematic use of various points of views. Very well explained and detailed enough to make a point! I subscribed to you, hope to see such videos in the future! best of luck with UA-cam!
Hello, Will. Just wanted to take a moment and say that I've been researching on the subject of digital minimalism and happened to find your channel, this video is beyond being resourceful. I'm surprised you managed to cover large volumes of important info only in 11 minutes, providing statistics and your interesting conclusions. Also, I was happy to see some content related to David Foster Wallace specifically, as well as any other of your videos. Anyway, I appreciate the time you put into your craft - the quality of your work is mind-blowing, just as the narrative/subject matter. I hope you make more content and get popular world-wide because this is a gem of a channel. Such work moves us forward and promotes good taste. Good job!
Sir, you are a new channel that I just found a few weeks and I gotta say, it's uncanny how much richness you portray and how specific your video essays can feel to me. Your editing skills are like pro, you like the same shows I do for almost the same reasons, and you still have faith in humanity. I think you have created a woderful channel. Please keep doing what you do and thank you. I love learning, and I've learned a lot with you. -Also, greetings from Puerto Rico
This is an amazing video essay. I've been thinking a lot about this concept recently but lack the mental organization that this video provides! Thank you for this social commentary. I love that it's reaching an audience and hope it reaches even further!
This is one of the most important videos I have seen in terms of addiction and how it controls our lives. I would know since I spend so much time on UA-cam and struggle to focus on doing things that I KNOW are more fulfilling like writing stories or poetry or reading good books. It literally does make it a struggle to make the choices that I want to make in life. I find it fascinating that the internet, ideally conceived as an information economy, has become that of an attention economy. and never have I found a video which so poignantly captures that fact. Thanks a lot man.
one day years from now when you have dozens of these videos, people will binge watch them. And with this being one of those videos, they will practically ignore the central message and continue to entertain themselves on social media. Ugh, I'm started to sound like my mom. Keep up the good work.
I like how you separate the video content from the ending supporting message, it gives to the viewer a clearer information of what he really was searching on it. Keep doing great stuff pal :^)
Great video and editing! This made me think back 20years to when I was at uni. I would have killed for the access to information that we have today, but I know I would never have achieved anything with all these distractions. I often get a tangible feeling of being overwhelmed by the bombardment of the trivial, but couldn't frame it with the clarity you have. Definitely subbed.
It's rare to find a UA-cam video that expresses why you maybe shouldn't watch another, especially this well. I can see why some people here are comparing your content with Nerdwriter's, but having just binged a lot of your content I think the quality of your essays eclipses his. Very impressive to see from a (currently) small channel and I'm really interested to see what else you have in store. I'm going to be thinking about this all day while I do my "important stuff".
Can we expect drug dealers to put the human component first and not see their customers as money making cattle? This is nothing new but a form of slavery where the slaves don’t even recognise that they are trading their lives for nothing.
Absolutely great video! Really put all of my lingering thoughts into one nice package. It's such a strange feeling of guilt knowing that as I consume this video, I'm consciously a part of what this video is outlining. And judging from your other videos, I assume you resonate a lot which David Foster Wallace's philosophies, which as a whole adds to the guilt and irony.. All that being said, you have a new subscriber.
After watching a few videos I clicked the subscribe button thinking " Wow this guy is awesome, why haven't I come across him before." only to realize he only has 34,000 subs?!? now mostly I'd say that's more than most UA-camrs deserve, But with this guy I wish everyone could see these Videos!! I'll be sharing for sure! Thanks for putting out quality content that has actual meaning behind it. please keep it up!
First time I've actually pledged via Patreon, but these videos deserve it. Interesting thoughts, well articulated, good use of quotations and attention-keeping visual effects. Keep it up!
This is wonder stuff! I'm a philosophy student and this an excellent take on the good, bad, and ugly of media and tech. You are one the few worthwhile channels on UA-cam and am planning on supporting in the future.
I read "Amusing Ourselves to Death" in HS, and Aldous Huxley remains one of my favorite authors and thinkers. And in undergrad I found a love for David Foster Wallace and his Infinite Jest. And I absolutely love Louis C. K. and his raw and sincere, yet always cautiously skeptical view of life. I'm so happy to find you and your videos. They are well animated and edited, a great length, informative, and fulfilling. I'm glad you offer some advice, some solutions, and some qualifiers. You have a great voice! Keep it up!
I'm getting increasingly frustrated with people who hold books up as something sacred. "Oh, no! People don't read books any more!" No, we don't buy bound stack of paper with words printed on it, but we still read the contents of what would have been in a book a few decades ago. Am I really somehow wrong to read a novel on a monitor vs. on printed paper? Is that somehow superior? I knew you'd get into that right from the opening metaphor where your phone distracted you from your book. It's funny, though, how young people reading books were at one time regarded with the same disdain as people staring at their phones are now, all the "you're wasting your time, stop staring at text and go outside" hogwash. Once upon a time, books suffered the same stigma. But because they were accepted as a legitimate medium for artistic expression by previous generations, we treat them as something sacred. But television and the Internet? Oh, no! Those this are far too new to have become part of our collective psyche, so they're "the thing that's ruining society." You know, that abstract "thing" which every generation thinks they didn't have or need but kids these days are doing too much of? Yeah, that thing. And I get the point of the video - it's control of information. That's a real issue in the digital age where information has become overly-abundant and filtering it as opposed to finding it is the main challenge. Filtering that whole thing through the completely irrelevant aspect of printed books only serves to detract from the overall point.
Just found your channel and watched this video directly after 'Every Story is The Same.' Thought it was interesting how the ad-attention circle (3:24) can function in much the same way as the story narrative circle if you think about it in a funny way. You give the ad/service your attention and going through its experience you are changed to want more of the product/the service/youtube/whatever. Sort of a sad and cynical version of that journey tho lol. Anyway just wanted to say that I'm a fan and hope you keep making videos!
Im positive this channel is gonna be huge over the coming months. People always come back to high quality content, the fact that your getting way more views than subs shows your doung something right. Good luck and more power to you dude.
Thanks for sharing the truth. I've been out of facebook for quite some time now, but there is still this itch that I cannot scratch. Something just feels so wrong. You explained my troubles well. Now I'm thinking of deleting my instagram. I wish your content doesn't get buried deep in irrelevant stuff.
Great video Will, I am really happy I stumbled across your channel. I agree that there is a huge struggle between the two extremes of unplugging where you may feel totally disconnected and the addiction of being "plugged in". I think to find the balance we have to realize our power as a consumer and actively choose to put human relationships/interactions first. The same can be said for Love, it's an active choice to remain faithful to another person but unfortunately many believe that it will just come easily or naturally and so they don't try when the going gets rough. If we try as humans to make each other feel important and needed, we'll realize how much power we really have to change the narrative of the world. Thanks again and keep it up.
An interesting and I think correct assessment of current developments. I know youtube succeeded in catching my attention and keeping it, I used to read a couple books a month when I was a kid and now I have trouble finishing one every two months, even though I can read a lot faster. On the other hand, the information I get from youtube is similar to what I get from books, though a bit more shallow. I think on the whole it's a plus because I have been exposed to a lot more different ideas and facts than if I had read books instead of watching videos. I think social media can be a huge boon to your social life if you use it right. For me, facebook is a really useful tool to organize events and have a way to contact people I know. I can ask people if they want to hang out through whatsapp and snapchat and instagram let me quickly see what people are up to (and youtube allows me to argue with strangers on the internet). And I recently moved to a different country so I'm very glad I can talk to my family and friends back home through skype. The thing that really bothers me about social media and smartphones is that some people are unable to put their phone away for a couple hours and just enjoy the moment with the people they are with. While taking some time for yourself when you've been around other people for a while isn't new (or necessarily a bad thing), it's nigh impossible to have an uninterrupted conversation with certain people for more than 30 minutes nowadays. If you can't make the effort of engaging with the people around you, you are not worth their time.
Totally agree with your thoughts. I think it's important to let those people know (the people who take out their phone mid convo) your thoughts. If they are on their phone 30 minutes out of the hour your hanging with them it's terrible for both of you. Letting them know it bothers you will hopefully change how they interact with their phone around you. It's very subjective person to person, but I think we all know that our most enjoyable conversations are the ones that don't involve small talk or phones. My biggest fear, which I realize should have made it into the video, is that these social networks have enough data to reinforce your opinions. They can essentially show you everything you already believe. You are attracted to the things you agree with, but if you continuously follow one train of thought, I think it can be very dangerous. Hopefully the "attention engineers" can fix it.
Will Schoder Yes good point, I forgot about that aspect. Confirmation bias is rampant on many social platforms but especially facebook. I don't think this will change unfortunately because people like being agreed with and the algorithms that create these information bubbles also keep people engaged with good recommendations. It's especially worrying since more and more people nowadays get most of their news from facebook and I think most people are not aware of how biased/skewed the information they are getting can be. It's a matter of time before this starts impacting public policy adversely. Let's hope the big companies make the courageous decision to ensure everyone is exposed to a varied spectrum of opinions and information.
You have an admirable knack of voicing and editing concepts which are very relevant to people at this time. I look forward to seeing and hearing more of your work. BTW, what editing software are you using, and do you do your own graphics? Your style is inspiring.
Thanks, man! My hope is that these videos offer some practicality for day to day life. There are plenty of brilliant people who tell us brilliant things out there, but I've always found that unless those ingenious ideas can be applied to your life, they bog you down more than they uplift you. Self-fellating the brain does not equal happiness! I primarily use Adobe Premiere. I spend 30% of my time in After Effects and Photoshop, and 70% in Premiere as I edit. I never do anything fancy in After Effects (I hope to learn eventually)--it's the rendering that takes up the time. I'm really happy to hear that you find my style inspiring. I am not skilled in design/animation, so I try to make up for it in different ways.
Great presentation. Love the meta humour at the end. I've recently moved to a 200 year old manor, with housemates that aren't very focused on social media and the Internet, and I've found myself ejected from the "attention economy". I seem to only go on the Internet now for documentaries, the Cinema Snob, and philosophical videos like this at night after a productive and social day. The Summer weather could have something to do with it, though
Thank you for this. Have to admit, I watch all UA-cam videos on on 2.5x the speed (through a program) so I can get more than double the information each day--while bouncing around platforms, devices, listening to audiobooks on 3x, podcasts at 2x...it's maddening. The sad part is my brain feels satisfied about getting ahead by going 2x in an Nx world. I don't even watch the news or talk shows live because I'd rather wait until I can speed them up, and watch two shows for the time of one. Then, by taking a 20 minute walk each day, a little dose of digital detox, letting the default network run and whatnot, all those overdoses of information conflate into new ideas and I have to run home to write them all down on my phone--because reading handwriting is hard enough without having to take the time to transcribe it from analogue to digital...even though I know how important handwriting is to memory and learning.
Big fan of the 'unplug to connect' philosophy, not to say that technology doesn't have its place in connection. I've loved all of your new videos and agree with @quentin labroche that the slow pace makes it a more thoughtful experience. Keep it up!
I'm waiting for my wife to get changed so she can watch this, because i want her perspective to be changed as profoundly as mine was. When i saw only 4,500 views, i thought wow, what an untouched gem. Fantastic content like this might not be enough to make it to the big leagues, you might need some marketing expertise and word of mouth. You got the word of mouth going with this guy, i wish i knew how to do more, you are more deserving of my ATTENTION than 99% of UA-cam.
hahhah! Thank you for those kind words Skippy. As important as the topic is, it's not necessarily something that people go out of their way to click on. I am by no means a master of the subject, but I really wish more people could have an awareness of it.
3000 subs within 3 days then! Awesome to see this channel grow, as ironic as it might be in light of this video. But at least recommendations will have better quality. Let's try not to amuse ourselves to death.
You don't have to view interruptions in a negative light. Other studies suggest younger, "digital natives", handle simultaneous information pretty well. At least compared to older generations. Having the option to let a "second screen" interrupt you, might be viewed as a boon. Maybe you needed a short break, maybe the background-noise from the radio or stream you're watching next to your homework makes it more bearable. Letting you work longer, without tiring. Selective attention can be a boon. And many of us buy several monitors for our PCs, just so we can multitask like this. But being aware of this (like the commercial industry already is), will help you choose what interruptions are best suited for you.
I genuinely feel lucky that I came across your channel! A combination of great content with fantastic visuals (which I usually don't find in personal, small channels) This subject here is very interesting, and I often argue with the 'anti-technology' people, who - ironically - share their view mostly thru social media. One thing I actually like about social networks, all apps linked to them, and their algorithm in general is that, for the most part, they show you what 'you' want. Yes the general trendy stuff is often shallow or superficial, but their personalised ads and 'related' section is - in a way - under your control. Yes, it's a distraction and at the end of the day it's mainly for the money, but still, as long as I have control over what I'm getting, and as long as I can 'disconnect', this to me seems better than spending hours engaged in a pointless conversation with useless information about someone's day or being stuck with gossips made by the same person who's making the 'popular' material on the Internet the way they are. The attention-grabbing media won't 'grab your attention' unless it knows how to speak to 'you'. So, aren't the 'common people' the ones who choose this unfulfilling material? Why do we often blame the big companies when their business largely depends on 'our' approval? I know this may sound cynical, but whenever I think about this media-audience loop, I end up with one conclusion: the main problem lies in the majority of people, which happens to be "uninformed, easily emotional" as described in the video. But ANYWAY! I'm glad that these platforms exist and give a chance for people like you to share their ideas! :D
Dude! This was a profound video. You and this video deserve more views or likes. I hope you can become full time on this channel if that's your wish. Thank you for informing us of the Attention economy.
The part about how the "attention economy capitalizes on the uninformed, easily emotional individual who gets sucked into things by their basest instincts" is absolutely true. It's the exact reason every comment section, certainly on articles or videos with attention-grabbing, click bait headlines always, always, always attract the dumbest people. I saw glimpses of how this could be a problem as early as 2005. But, never could imagined it could have gotten as bad as it's gotten today. The internet in general is a toxic place now.
I sincerely appreciate the good intentions and effort you put in to simplify important perspectives. A heart felt thank you :) I will be pledging a buck a month :)
I realised that when my friends start pestering me with texts , even if it's just for an hour, I can't do anyting productive with my brain for DAYS on end.
Lovely video essay, man! Appreciate all the effort. I know how time consuming it can be. I'd recommend the book Digimodernism to further understand our current paradigm and digital culture. I hope you don't lose faith in producing quality content like this. I got furious when some of my own video essays were taken down for copyright infringement and I began producing something completely different after that point, but I would be mad as hell (and I'm not gonna take this anymore!) if I saw your content being taken down. There's so much dirt and crap on YT, but it's a gold mine nevertheless. And this is gold, my friend. Keep on producing the good stuff!
I just opened this video for the first time. I had no sound because my computer only plays sound through my earbuds. Which are not connected at the time, yet still there is a ringing in my ear. I view this video on youtube feor 47 sec and understood exactly what I'm looking at.
Great video, loved the editing! I wish that sites would create those time saving ideas within their apps. I've been torn with this idea as well. I've seen art that displays how technology has ruined society but also seen how it has benefited society. To me, these companies are not evil, but rather institutions that people can use to their advantage. We are the source of their success and it is time we start making them see us as valuable time. Understanding the motivation behind sites like Netflix and Snapchat are important to make sure that you do not take their suggestions as the word of experts or tech savy people but to recognize what they are trying to do at face value. That is way Buzzfeed, to me, as a horrible site that needs to die. Buzzfeed does nothing but pounce on people's instincts and predispositions on current events. The dangers of technology and the attention economy are not easily solved but can be overcome with knowledge.
Brilliant video. You definitely know how to produce your content in an entertaining, unbiased and still educational way that is quite impressive. I really enjoy the content you produce. Especially because the topics, such as the meaning of life and the addiction economy, are ones that I am interesting in for quite some while now. I am thankful for the internet and all the information that it provides us with - as a German I wouldn't be able to watch your videos otherwise - but at the same time I meet more and more people who seem to have lost control over their attention while craving for the next dopamine rush that social media provides them with. It just bothers me and I hope that these people spend a crucial share of their time to satisfy their need for social hormones of happiness such as serotonin and oxytocin. Not to find a meaning in life, but to live a meaningful life - a life were people enjoy the moment they are living in and are able to share it with the ones they really love. Thank you again for sharing your videos with us. Looking forward to more of your content! P.S. Is there an option to supporting you with a one time financial contribution?
In the book 'The Shallows' they explains that the internet and smart phones changes your brain's dynamics and structure. Reading a book on one subject deeply engages your brain at a much higher level than watching a youtube video. And with the rise of the internet we are losing our ability to engage our brains in that same way. Which explains why I have to check apps on my phone while I watch netflix. I reached a point where I asked myself what am I actually getting out of social media? How is it improving my life? The only reason it exists as a medium is to be a platform for which to sell advertisements.
OMG SO GREAT! Ive discovered your channel searching for FW information and now I am in love with your channel. You are great! Sometimes I also think about how they are stealing our attention but you with this video has made my thoughts became words and definitely I will be more aware about it. Hope you to do new videos more often! Best wishes!
Considering this video's view count, this is freaking underrated! And even if this video got me realizing how much time I wasted on cyberspace again, it got me looking at the bright side even more! Thanks very much for this nice distraction, then! ^^
You're killing it Will! Bravo. Two questions about this piece: 1 - what is the "Life is an Incredible Journey..." book you keep flashing, 2 - can you point to anyone who has followed up on Michael Goldhopper's ideas. I think it is a fantastic idea.
Scott Baker Hey Scott! Thanks so much for your kind comment. That art piece (Life Is An Incredible Journey Full of Adventure and Exploration) actually hangs in my room. It's by Jon-Michael Frank. His website is linked in the video description. There are a few books out there on the Attention Economy, but not many. I recommend reading Goldhaber's article in Wired. A book came out in 2013 called "The Attention Economy: Understanding the New Currency of Business"--it's not bad. Nir Eyal's "Hooked" and BJ Fogg's "Persuasive Technology" are the real big players on the tech side of things--the "habit forming" ideas that work hand-in-hand W/ the economy.
This is a very nice overview of the attention economy. As for the conclusion you are trying to make, I think after 6 years since the video is uploaded. It's very clear where big tech has decided to go toward which is revenue and power. Technology is useful but due to human nature, we often corrupt them by going to the extreme of it.
I think that this is an important topic. I teach at a university, and I know my students suffer from device addiction. All of them. And they can't read or study as well as students ten or twenty years ago.
This is so clear. This video should really have more views. I want to share it, but then I'd be a part of the problem. Ah, I'm sharing it anyway. Well done. Great work. Really. You already seem to have a voice. I'm working on that. I watch a lot of video essays and yours are thoroughly interesting and entertaining.
Omg this was dead on. I member reading Brave New world in high school and it quickly become one of my favorite books as a teenager. I resonated with it so deeply and it explained my disdain for the conformity in society. Only now am I really seeing how accurate it was. Thank you for making that correlation!!
Well done, thanks. How about a post about the means of restricting and restraining this attention struggle? Like tools and methodologies for time management and "attention preservation".
This is one of the best UA-cam videos I've ever seen. Thoughtful, careful, nuanced but still with an extremely strong and compelling point of view. Still don't know how to react (other than to subscribe!) but much to think about here. Thank you. -John
oh shit, hello!
Damn! I never expected the king(one of them) of the kingdom of nerdfighteria here. DFTBA!!!
Damn, that’s high praise from J. Green hisself, I’d be shittin’. Surprised Will hasn’t replied in turn.
I mean J and H are YT video essay OGs. Practically sovereign paragons.
Hey John, just wanted to let you know this comment is printed out and pasted to the front of a binder "Inspiration" -- a collection of comments and messages that remind me of the purpose of my work. Thank you.
Hey man,
I so appreciate your valuable insights. I relate & share my heartiest consent with you man. We need to get & give attention for the good cause.
It's amazing how infinite information pushes to you your eager to know everything no matter if you have a limited time of hours in your life.
Sometimes the best is to know exactly why you are using your mobile and be aware of any distractions.
The production quality on this video for such a small channel is incredible! Keep up the good work.
Thank you so much my friend!! Your comment is appreciated. A lot.
Will Schoder spread this stuff in reddit. They'll eat it up.
I agree with MF Whom (great name btw) These are good vids! Looking forward to more!
Replying because your username and pfp
***** ;)
Finally a video that examines the bad *and* good of the Internet. The Internet isn't the worst thing to ever happen to humanity that will cause thirty world wars but it's not nearly flawless. This video was analytical, unbiased and fair. Thank you for taking the effort to do this!
Thank you Xiao--I think it's so easy to take all the good stuff for granted with the Internet, so I tried to find a balance! Your comment means a lot.
the internet is billions of things so it's like saying "life isnt all good or bad". for some people it is pretty alright, for some people, yes, it has all been bad. it depends what you're witnessing, how it's affecting you, and what you're using it for. using it for youtube video essays vs using it for gore and p*rn are obviously very different things.
I am genuinely disappointed that you do not have more views and subscribers.
Thanks for such a nice comment--I consider myself lucky to have as many subscribers as I do, but having more would be nice too.
Will Schoder Keep up the great work.
They'll come, it's a matter of time.
Why? It's the attention economy and this video is 11 minutes. ;)
Kid. You still don't know how internet works do you. You'll find beautiful songs with as few as less than a hundred subs. And you will also find incredible content with more dislikes than likes. Never judge a video by its likes, views, comments or anything such measure. Or even title. That's the best thing I have learned about the internet. With this rule I have found the most astounding content.
Wonderful video. You seem to be able to articulate these really heady topics in a conversational and unpretentious way that ties together threads from some of my favorite artists like DFW and Louis CK. It's impressive.
Spencer Emry hey Spencer, I really appreciate this comment. I am trying my best to be educational and heady without being arrogant. Unfortunately; that's a really hard thing to do, but I hope my audience appreciates my videos regardless
Spencer Emry thank you for going out of your way to make a comment
No problem, thanks for going out of your way to reply! For what it's worth, and hopefully without seeming like I'm blowing smoke up your ass, I think your obvious commitment to quality (subject matter, editing, pacing, etc.) is what sets it apart. Anybody could make a video about how full of distractions today's world is, but to make one that's this insightful, entertaining, and unassuming, is something to be proud of, and I look forward to more!
This video is so well made and thought out. What most UA-camrs do is that they say "this is a problem because of this" and then they don't really explain what one can do to solve it. You do! As well as bring attention to the good things that have come out of the "problem", in this case being addicted to constant information and reward systems in our phones/and or computers. You also said "fuck", which made me respect you more for not censoring what you really feel about it. I hope you read this, because we need more of this thing on UA-cam. Great job man.
This Channel is surprisingly good for a small channel, i love it when the videos are slow it makes a difference compared to all those videos with a billion cuts, there you have the time to grab the information and process it.
Thank you Quentin! I'm glad you like the way I put my videos together. Learning + gratitude is about as good as it gets in my book.
Watching this video while surfing the internet for the 3rd consecutive hour on a Friday night while all my friends are out having fun was NOT what I needed tonight.
I think that means you're right
so it's been 6years did anything change? not judging im kinda the same, addicted to information
my advice tho , get an equal amount of experience
Now we are so addicted that we do not even remember this concern we had because we are so occupied all the time.
I just wanted to congratulate you for your amazing work, perfect pacing, fascinating topics, I guess this is what Adam Curtis means when he talks about what journalism should do. Please keep it up, this is great!
I just want to say that I not only do I enjoy the content of this channel, I really enjoy your style. It's a great blending of graphics and video. Nicely done!
i'm really glad that i found that channel. Salute from Brazil
Salute!
In the years since this video has come out, companies like Apple and Android now have "Digital Wellbeing and Screen Time" features that allow you to set time limits on apps and websites, and can track how much time you've spent on each app. I don't know what the general consensus is for how effective these tools are, but I think they're an excellent step in the right direction.
I've never seen a youtube channel who's voice speaks to me so much before. Maybe it's because all the TV you mentioned in your first video are the TV shows I have grown up on, or the fact that you are a huge harmon and comedy fan, but your point of view and the mediums you use to explain your thoughts absolutely speak to me. I found your channel yesterday and you are now my favorite. Fantastic Work.
This is the first time I'm provoked to support a channel for all its content is either meaningful or very helpful, especially this one
Fans from India!
Hey. I am from India too. You found them because of their Rick and Morty video or David Wallace's?
Sritanshu Sinha Reddit bruh ;)
Rascalas Haha. Of course you did. Just checked out your videos just now. Some of them are nice.
Rick and Morty! :)
Bojack Anyone 😀
Your work is brilliant !
Concisely informational and entertaining. Your ability to cross reference data to derive ellaborate conclusions from many consituents, sparks an intellectual avant garde aura to mind.
Keep it up man!
Wow! What a compliment! Thank you so much--that's such a kind thing to say.
As an autistic, the internet has given me a social life that I never, ever would have otherwise. Sure, there are negatives to current tech but imho the positives are vastly overwhelming.
Really love this comment. I totally agree. The positives absolutely outweigh the negatives, but it is important to see how they (social media companies) dramatically control our worlds. We need to be careful. Thanks for the comment!
@@schodes couldn't agree more.
I've been struggling with this for years now. I am constantly multitasking and getting distracted. I'm thinking of going back down to 1 monitor from my current 3 so I can only have one task on screen at once, and I'm going to try to spend more time focusing on one thing at a time, and spending more time doing more in-depth tasks like long-form reading.
I think meditation might also help.
Thanks for your video.
Your content is really great. I'm glad I found this channel
As a PhD student and as an upcoming researcher, I would like to say that this video is well made with nuanced meaning and systematic use of various points of views. Very well explained and detailed enough to make a point! I subscribed to you, hope to see such videos in the future! best of luck with UA-cam!
Hello, Will.
Just wanted to take a moment and say that I've been researching on the subject of digital minimalism and happened to find your channel, this video is beyond being resourceful. I'm surprised you managed to cover large volumes of important info only in 11 minutes, providing statistics and your interesting conclusions.
Also, I was happy to see some content related to David Foster Wallace specifically, as well as any other of your videos.
Anyway, I appreciate the time you put into your craft - the quality of your work is mind-blowing, just as the narrative/subject matter. I hope you make more content and get popular world-wide because this is a gem of a channel.
Such work moves us forward and promotes good taste. Good job!
Sir, you are a new channel that I just found a few weeks and I gotta say, it's uncanny how much richness you portray and how specific your video essays can feel to me. Your editing skills are like pro, you like the same shows I do for almost the same reasons, and you still have faith in humanity. I think you have created a woderful channel. Please keep doing what you do and thank you. I love learning, and I've learned a lot with you.
-Also, greetings from Puerto Rico
This is an amazing video essay. I've been thinking a lot about this concept recently but lack the mental organization that this video provides! Thank you for this social commentary. I love that it's reaching an audience and hope it reaches even further!
Powerful stuff. The bit about distractions and refocusing at 4:30 was especially eye opening. Well done.
This is one of the most important videos I have seen in terms of addiction and how it controls our lives. I would know since I spend so much time on UA-cam and struggle to focus on doing things that I KNOW are more fulfilling like writing stories or poetry or reading good books. It literally does make it a struggle to make the choices that I want to make in life.
I find it fascinating that the internet, ideally conceived as an information economy, has become that of an attention economy.
and never have I found a video which so poignantly captures that fact. Thanks a lot man.
I wish more people devoted their attention to videos like this. You make super insightful content.
one day years from now when you have dozens of these videos, people will binge watch them. And with this being one of those videos, they will practically ignore the central message and continue to entertain themselves on social media. Ugh, I'm started to sound like my mom. Keep up the good work.
I like how you separate the video content from the ending supporting message, it gives to the viewer a clearer information of what he really was searching on it. Keep doing great stuff pal :^)
Great video and editing! This made me think back 20years to when I was at uni. I would have killed for the access to information that we have today, but I know I would never have achieved anything with all these distractions. I often get a tangible feeling of being overwhelmed by the bombardment of the trivial, but couldn't frame it with the clarity you have. Definitely subbed.
Love how you mention further reading. It is of great help for those who want to look further down the rabbit hole.
Just found your channel, binged it all....need MOAR!!!
Isn't that like the topic of this video.
It's rare to find a UA-cam video that expresses why you maybe shouldn't watch another, especially this well.
I can see why some people here are comparing your content with Nerdwriter's, but having just binged a lot of your content I think the quality of your essays eclipses his. Very impressive to see from a (currently) small channel and I'm really interested to see what else you have in store.
I'm going to be thinking about this all day while I do my "important stuff".
Can we expect drug dealers to put the human component first and not see their customers as money making cattle? This is nothing new but a form of slavery where the slaves don’t even recognise that they are trading their lives for nothing.
Absolutely great video! Really put all of my lingering thoughts into one nice package. It's such a strange feeling of guilt knowing that as I consume this video, I'm consciously a part of what this video is outlining. And judging from your other videos, I assume you resonate a lot which David Foster Wallace's philosophies, which as a whole adds to the guilt and irony.. All that being said, you have a new subscriber.
After watching a few videos I clicked the subscribe button thinking " Wow this guy is awesome, why haven't I come across him before." only to realize he only has 34,000 subs?!? now mostly I'd say that's more than most UA-camrs deserve, But with this guy I wish everyone could see these Videos!!
I'll be sharing for sure!
Thanks for putting out quality content that has actual meaning behind it. please keep it up!
First time I've actually pledged via Patreon, but these videos deserve it. Interesting thoughts, well articulated, good use of quotations and attention-keeping visual effects.
Keep it up!
Great video Will! Wallace would be proud of this channel along with video essays as a whole.
Thanks Conner! I hope he would be too.
Amazing content!
Omg Saiman..
Yes
आ गया दुनिया का सबसे overrated youtuber यहां भी।
अपने चैनल पर नया चलचित्र कब लाएगा साइमन।
bro u here
This is wonder stuff! I'm a philosophy student and this an excellent take on the good, bad, and ugly of media and tech. You are one the few worthwhile channels on UA-cam and am planning on supporting in the future.
I read "Amusing Ourselves to Death" in HS, and Aldous Huxley remains one of my favorite authors and thinkers. And in undergrad I found a love for David Foster Wallace and his Infinite Jest. And I absolutely love Louis C. K. and his raw and sincere, yet always cautiously skeptical view of life. I'm so happy to find you and your videos. They are well animated and edited, a great length, informative, and fulfilling. I'm glad you offer some advice, some solutions, and some qualifiers. You have a great voice! Keep it up!
I'm getting increasingly frustrated with people who hold books up as something sacred. "Oh, no! People don't read books any more!" No, we don't buy bound stack of paper with words printed on it, but we still read the contents of what would have been in a book a few decades ago. Am I really somehow wrong to read a novel on a monitor vs. on printed paper? Is that somehow superior? I knew you'd get into that right from the opening metaphor where your phone distracted you from your book.
It's funny, though, how young people reading books were at one time regarded with the same disdain as people staring at their phones are now, all the "you're wasting your time, stop staring at text and go outside" hogwash. Once upon a time, books suffered the same stigma. But because they were accepted as a legitimate medium for artistic expression by previous generations, we treat them as something sacred. But television and the Internet? Oh, no! Those this are far too new to have become part of our collective psyche, so they're "the thing that's ruining society." You know, that abstract "thing" which every generation thinks they didn't have or need but kids these days are doing too much of? Yeah, that thing.
And I get the point of the video - it's control of information. That's a real issue in the digital age where information has become overly-abundant and filtering it as opposed to finding it is the main challenge. Filtering that whole thing through the completely irrelevant aspect of printed books only serves to detract from the overall point.
Just found your channel and watched this video directly after 'Every Story is The Same.' Thought it was interesting how the ad-attention circle (3:24) can function in much the same way as the story narrative circle if you think about it in a funny way. You give the ad/service your attention and going through its experience you are changed to want more of the product/the service/youtube/whatever. Sort of a sad and cynical version of that journey tho lol.
Anyway just wanted to say that I'm a fan and hope you keep making videos!
Im positive this channel is gonna be huge over the coming months. People always come back to high quality content, the fact that your getting way more views than subs shows your doung something right. Good luck and more power to you dude.
Fantastic video. Attention Economy is actually the main theme of my PhD. We should talk sometime :)
I love your videos man! Amazing work!
If all content in the attention economy was this succinct, informative and well produced - it wouldn't be quite so scary. Great work.
Thanks for sharing the truth. I've been out of facebook for quite some time now, but there is still this itch that I cannot scratch. Something just feels so wrong. You explained my troubles well. Now I'm thinking of deleting my instagram. I wish your content doesn't get buried deep in irrelevant stuff.
you're one of the best people making these right now. i'll be waiting on the next
Great video Will, I am really happy I stumbled across your channel. I agree that there is a huge struggle between the two extremes of unplugging where you may feel totally disconnected and the addiction of being "plugged in". I think to find the balance we have to realize our power as a consumer and actively choose to put human relationships/interactions first. The same can be said for Love, it's an active choice to remain faithful to another person but unfortunately many believe that it will just come easily or naturally and so they don't try when the going gets rough. If we try as humans to make each other feel important and needed, we'll realize how much power we really have to change the narrative of the world. Thanks again and keep it up.
You had my curiosity, but now you have my attention.
I was going to just have memes for 11 minutes
Good thing you didn't mate. I don't think the youtube view counter can go that high.
Comparisons are also drawn to Plato's Allegory of the Cave. The shadows on the cave wall are now images flickering from our phones.
An interesting and I think correct assessment of current developments. I know youtube succeeded in catching my attention and keeping it, I used to read a couple books a month when I was a kid and now I have trouble finishing one every two months, even though I can read a lot faster. On the other hand, the information I get from youtube is similar to what I get from books, though a bit more shallow. I think on the whole it's a plus because I have been exposed to a lot more different ideas and facts than if I had read books instead of watching videos.
I think social media can be a huge boon to your social life if you use it right. For me, facebook is a really useful tool to organize events and have a way to contact people I know. I can ask people if they want to hang out through whatsapp and snapchat and instagram let me quickly see what people are up to (and youtube allows me to argue with strangers on the internet). And I recently moved to a different country so I'm very glad I can talk to my family and friends back home through skype.
The thing that really bothers me about social media and smartphones is that some people are unable to put their phone away for a couple hours and just enjoy the moment with the people they are with. While taking some time for yourself when you've been around other people for a while isn't new (or necessarily a bad thing), it's nigh impossible to have an uninterrupted conversation with certain people for more than 30 minutes nowadays. If you can't make the effort of engaging with the people around you, you are not worth their time.
Totally agree with your thoughts. I think it's important to let those people know (the people who take out their phone mid convo) your thoughts. If they are on their phone 30 minutes out of the hour your hanging with them it's terrible for both of you. Letting them know it bothers you will hopefully change how they interact with their phone around you. It's very subjective person to person, but I think we all know that our most enjoyable conversations are the ones that don't involve small talk or phones.
My biggest fear, which I realize should have made it into the video, is that these social networks have enough data to reinforce your opinions. They can essentially show you everything you already believe. You are attracted to the things you agree with, but if you continuously follow one train of thought, I think it can be very dangerous. Hopefully the "attention engineers" can fix it.
Will Schoder Yes good point, I forgot about that aspect. Confirmation bias is rampant on many social platforms but especially facebook. I don't think this will change unfortunately because people like being agreed with and the algorithms that create these information bubbles also keep people engaged with good recommendations.
It's especially worrying since more and more people nowadays get most of their news from facebook and I think most people are not aware of how biased/skewed the information they are getting can be. It's a matter of time before this starts impacting public policy adversely.
Let's hope the big companies make the courageous decision to ensure everyone is exposed to a varied spectrum of opinions and information.
I cannot understate how impressive your last three videos have been. A real inspiration.
I am blown away how fast your channel has grown! Big congrats!
You are on my list of favorite UA-cam channels with video essays. Thank you so much for existing. haha
You have an admirable knack of voicing and editing concepts which are very relevant to people at this time. I look forward to seeing and hearing more of your work.
BTW, what editing software are you using, and do you do your own graphics? Your style is inspiring.
Thanks, man! My hope is that these videos offer some practicality for day to day life. There are plenty of brilliant people who tell us brilliant things out there, but I've always found that unless those ingenious ideas can be applied to your life, they bog you down more than they uplift you. Self-fellating the brain does not equal happiness!
I primarily use Adobe Premiere. I spend 30% of my time in After Effects and Photoshop, and 70% in Premiere as I edit. I never do anything fancy in After Effects (I hope to learn eventually)--it's the rendering that takes up the time. I'm really happy to hear that you find my style inspiring. I am not skilled in design/animation, so I try to make up for it in different ways.
Great presentation. Love the meta humour at the end. I've recently moved to a 200 year old manor, with housemates that aren't very focused on social media and the Internet, and I've found myself ejected from the "attention economy". I seem to only go on the Internet now for documentaries, the Cinema Snob, and philosophical videos like this at night after a productive and social day. The Summer weather could have something to do with it, though
Thank you for this. Have to admit, I watch all UA-cam videos on on 2.5x the speed (through a program) so I can get more than double the information each day--while bouncing around platforms, devices, listening to audiobooks on 3x, podcasts at 2x...it's maddening. The sad part is my brain feels satisfied about getting ahead by going 2x in an Nx world. I don't even watch the news or talk shows live because I'd rather wait until I can speed them up, and watch two shows for the time of one. Then, by taking a 20 minute walk each day, a little dose of digital detox, letting the default network run and whatnot, all those overdoses of information conflate into new ideas and I have to run home to write them all down on my phone--because reading handwriting is hard enough without having to take the time to transcribe it from analogue to digital...even though I know how important handwriting is to memory and learning.
This is exactly what i wanted, very simple, very concise
I love the way the information is conveyed
Big fan of the 'unplug to connect' philosophy, not to say that technology doesn't have its place in connection. I've loved all of your new videos and agree with @quentin labroche that the slow pace makes it a more thoughtful experience. Keep it up!
Wow! Finding this video and your channel is like a kid finding his/her favorite toy under the Christmas tree. Thanks.
I'm waiting for my wife to get changed so she can watch this, because i want her perspective to be changed as profoundly as mine was. When i saw only 4,500 views, i thought wow, what an untouched gem. Fantastic content like this might not be enough to make it to the big leagues, you might need some marketing expertise and word of mouth. You got the word of mouth going with this guy, i wish i knew how to do more, you are more deserving of my ATTENTION than 99% of UA-cam.
hahhah! Thank you for those kind words Skippy. As important as the topic is, it's not necessarily something that people go out of their way to click on. I am by no means a master of the subject, but I really wish more people could have an awareness of it.
Just gonna post a comment here when he still has less than 10,000 subs. I don't think that's gonna last too long
3000 subs within 3 days then! Awesome to see this channel grow, as ironic as it might be in light of this video. But at least recommendations will have better quality. Let's try not to amuse ourselves to death.
+17000 since that post above mine? Now it's moving then. Congrats and well deserved!
97000 subs :)
It's gone 10x
You don't have to view interruptions in a negative light. Other studies suggest younger, "digital natives", handle simultaneous information pretty well. At least compared to older generations. Having the option to let a "second screen" interrupt you, might be viewed as a boon. Maybe you needed a short break, maybe the background-noise from the radio or stream you're watching next to your homework makes it more bearable. Letting you work longer, without tiring. Selective attention can be a boon. And many of us buy several monitors for our PCs, just so we can multitask like this. But being aware of this (like the commercial industry already is), will help you choose what interruptions are best suited for you.
I genuinely feel lucky that I came across your channel! A combination of great content with fantastic visuals (which I usually don't find in personal, small channels)
This subject here is very interesting, and I often argue with the 'anti-technology' people, who - ironically - share their view mostly thru social media. One thing I actually like about social networks, all apps linked to them, and their algorithm in general is that, for the most part, they show you what 'you' want. Yes the general trendy stuff is often shallow or superficial, but their personalised ads and 'related' section is - in a way - under your control. Yes, it's a distraction and at the end of the day it's mainly for the money, but still, as long as I have control over what I'm getting, and as long as I can 'disconnect', this to me seems better than spending hours engaged in a pointless conversation with useless information about someone's day or being stuck with gossips made by the same person who's making the 'popular' material on the Internet the way they are.
The attention-grabbing media won't 'grab your attention' unless it knows how to speak to 'you'. So, aren't the 'common people' the ones who choose this unfulfilling material? Why do we often blame the big companies when their business largely depends on 'our' approval?
I know this may sound cynical, but whenever I think about this media-audience loop, I end up with one conclusion: the main problem lies in the majority of people, which happens to be "uninformed, easily emotional" as described in the video.
But ANYWAY! I'm glad that these platforms exist and give a chance for people like you to share their ideas! :D
Dat editing tho
I couldn't be happier that you appreciate the editing. Thanks for the comment.
Dude! This was a profound video. You and this video deserve more views or likes. I hope you can become full time on this channel if that's your wish. Thank you for informing us of the Attention economy.
Thank you Gannan! So glad you enjoyed it.
Well I am impressed. This video from a medium-seized channel was one of the best I watched until now!
The part about how the "attention economy capitalizes on the uninformed, easily emotional individual who gets sucked into things by their basest instincts" is absolutely true. It's the exact reason every comment section, certainly on articles or videos with attention-grabbing, click bait headlines always, always, always attract the dumbest people. I saw glimpses of how this could be a problem as early as 2005. But, never could imagined it could have gotten as bad as it's gotten today. The internet in general is a toxic place now.
I sincerely appreciate the good intentions and effort you put in to simplify important perspectives.
A heart felt thank you :)
I will be pledging a buck a month :)
This channel is one of the few that actually has genuinely good content. Keep it up!
could not have said it any better. efficient, detailed and educated. keep it up.
That last scene won me over. I can't wait to see more of your content!
I realised that when my friends start pestering me with texts , even if it's just for an hour, I can't do anyting productive with my brain for DAYS on end.
I hope your videos attract more attention, they're amazing.
Also, putting that GEICO ad next to the Dave Wallace video is so funny.
Thank you so much Wilson! Glad you noticed that little easter egg ;)
Your work on youtube is so special Dude, please keep up the fantastic work!
You deserve my attention. Great aggregation of information on such an important topic. Amazing production as well.
Lovely video essay, man! Appreciate all the effort. I know how time consuming it can be. I'd recommend the book Digimodernism to further understand our current paradigm and digital culture. I hope you don't lose faith in producing quality content like this. I got furious when some of my own video essays were taken down for copyright infringement and I began producing something completely different after that point, but I would be mad as hell (and I'm not gonna take this anymore!) if I saw your content being taken down. There's so much dirt and crap on YT, but it's a gold mine nevertheless. And this is gold, my friend. Keep on producing the good stuff!
I just opened this video for the first time. I had no sound because my computer only plays sound through my earbuds. Which are not connected at the time, yet still there is a ringing in my ear. I view this video on youtube feor 47 sec and understood exactly what I'm looking at.
Great video, loved the editing! I wish that sites would create those time saving ideas within their apps. I've been torn with this idea as well. I've seen art that displays how technology has ruined society but also seen how it has benefited society. To me, these companies are not evil, but rather institutions that people can use to their advantage. We are the source of their success and it is time we start making them see us as valuable time. Understanding the motivation behind sites like Netflix and Snapchat are important to make sure that you do not take their suggestions as the word of experts or tech savy people but to recognize what they are trying to do at face value. That is way Buzzfeed, to me, as a horrible site that needs to die. Buzzfeed does nothing but pounce on people's instincts and predispositions on current events. The dangers of technology and the attention economy are not easily solved but can be overcome with knowledge.
oh the irony of watching this on youtube!! one of the most substantial channels out there though. keep it up man.
Brilliant video. You definitely know how to produce your content in an entertaining, unbiased and still educational way that is quite impressive. I really enjoy the content you produce. Especially because the topics, such as the meaning of life and the addiction economy, are ones that I am interesting in for quite some while now.
I am thankful for the internet and all the information that it provides us with - as a German I wouldn't be able to watch your videos otherwise - but at the same time I meet more and more people who seem to have lost control over their attention while craving for the next dopamine rush that social media provides them with. It just bothers me and I hope that these people spend a crucial share of their time to satisfy their need for social hormones of happiness such as serotonin and oxytocin. Not to find a meaning in life, but to live a meaningful life - a life were people enjoy the moment they are living in and are able to share it with the ones they really love.
Thank you again for sharing your videos with us. Looking forward to more of your content!
P.S. Is there an option to supporting you with a one time financial contribution?
Dude, I LOVE this and your last video about Wallace. I really see a big future for you on UA-cam! Wish you best of luck!
Thanks Nicholas!
In the book 'The Shallows' they explains that the internet and smart phones changes your brain's dynamics and structure. Reading a book on one subject deeply engages your brain at a much higher level than watching a youtube video. And with the rise of the internet we are losing our ability to engage our brains in that same way. Which explains why I have to check apps on my phone while I watch netflix. I reached a point where I asked myself what am I actually getting out of social media? How is it improving my life? The only reason it exists as a medium is to be a platform for which to sell advertisements.
OMG SO GREAT! Ive discovered your channel searching for FW information and now I am in love with your channel. You are great! Sometimes I also think about how they are stealing our attention but you with this video has made my thoughts became words and definitely I will be more aware about it.
Hope you to do new videos more often!
Best wishes!
How does this video only have 101k views in two years!? This video needs more attention
Considering this video's view count, this is freaking underrated! And even if this video got me realizing how much time I wasted on cyberspace again, it got me looking at the bright side even more! Thanks very much for this nice distraction, then! ^^
You're killing it Will! Bravo. Two questions about this piece: 1 - what is the "Life is an Incredible Journey..." book you keep flashing, 2 - can you point to anyone who has followed up on Michael Goldhopper's ideas. I think it is a fantastic idea.
Scott Baker Hey Scott! Thanks so much for your kind comment. That art piece (Life Is An Incredible Journey Full of Adventure and Exploration) actually hangs in my room. It's by Jon-Michael Frank. His website is linked in the video description. There are a few books out there on the Attention Economy, but not many. I recommend reading Goldhaber's article in Wired. A book came out in 2013 called "The Attention Economy: Understanding the New Currency of Business"--it's not bad. Nir Eyal's "Hooked" and BJ Fogg's "Persuasive Technology" are the real big players on the tech side of things--the "habit forming" ideas that work hand-in-hand W/ the economy.
This is a very nice overview of the attention economy. As for the conclusion you are trying to make, I think after 6 years since the video is uploaded. It's very clear where big tech has decided to go toward which is revenue and power. Technology is useful but due to human nature, we often corrupt them by going to the extreme of it.
Loved it, and loved the link to Tristan Harris. Thank you.
This was great! Please keep the video essays coming!
I think that this is an important topic. I teach at a university, and I know my students suffer from device addiction. All of them. And they can't read or study as well as students ten or twenty years ago.
please continue making videos such as this - you're very good at them. cheers.
This is so clear. This video should really have more views. I want to share it, but then I'd be a part of the problem. Ah, I'm sharing it anyway. Well done. Great work. Really. You already seem to have a voice. I'm working on that. I watch a lot of video essays and yours are thoroughly interesting and entertaining.
Omg this was dead on. I member reading Brave New world in high school and it quickly become one of my favorite books as a teenager. I resonated with it so deeply and it explained my disdain for the conformity in society. Only now am I really seeing how accurate it was. Thank you for making that correlation!!
Keep up the good work man. I can see you getting really popular in the future. You definitely deserve more subscribers.
Well done, thanks. How about a post about the means of restricting and restraining this attention struggle? Like tools and methodologies for time management and "attention preservation".
Just found your channel. Saw three videos so far, all of them are great. Keep up the good work and thanks.