We're Living in a World Where We're All Being Pumped Full of 'Addictive Slop', and Nobody Knows Who to Blame.
A new breed of exploitation has emerged, one that preys on our attention. It's called "human fracking", and it involves the relentless bombardment of us with addictive content, designed to keep us hooked for as long as possible. This isn't just a problem for individuals; it's a threat to our very way of life.
The stakes are high because our attention is what makes us human. We think, we care, we love, and we connect with others because of it. But when this resource is commodified and exploited, the consequences are dire. It's not just our mental health that's at risk; it's our ability to form meaningful relationships, to engage with the world around us, and to exercise our fundamental right to make choices.
The history of technology shows us that new forms of exploitation always emerge, along with novel forms of resistance. We've seen this before in the rise of digital platforms and the subsequent fight for a more equitable internet. Now, it's time to take on human fracking.
So what can we do? The answer lies in coming together as a global community, recognizing that our individual actions are just the tip of the iceberg. We need broad coalitions, diverse forms of study, and sanctuary spaces that protect and cultivate our attention. We need to promote alternative ways of being online, where love, curiosity, daydreaming, and self-care are valued.
The truth is, we already have the tools to resist human fracking. We all possess something unique – a passion, an interest, or a value that puts us beyond the reach of algorithms. Our true attention isn't about mindless scrolling; it's about being fully present, engaged, and mindful.
New technologies don't just create new problems; they also give rise to new forms of politics. We've seen this before with industrial labor and the emergence of workers' movements. Now, we're on the cusp of understanding a new power that comes with human fracking – the power to redefine our relationship with attention.
If we can come together to form a movement for attentional freedom, we can defy the frackers and create a world where our true attention is valued and respected. It won't be easy, but it's time to take a stand and demand a better future.
A new breed of exploitation has emerged, one that preys on our attention. It's called "human fracking", and it involves the relentless bombardment of us with addictive content, designed to keep us hooked for as long as possible. This isn't just a problem for individuals; it's a threat to our very way of life.
The stakes are high because our attention is what makes us human. We think, we care, we love, and we connect with others because of it. But when this resource is commodified and exploited, the consequences are dire. It's not just our mental health that's at risk; it's our ability to form meaningful relationships, to engage with the world around us, and to exercise our fundamental right to make choices.
The history of technology shows us that new forms of exploitation always emerge, along with novel forms of resistance. We've seen this before in the rise of digital platforms and the subsequent fight for a more equitable internet. Now, it's time to take on human fracking.
So what can we do? The answer lies in coming together as a global community, recognizing that our individual actions are just the tip of the iceberg. We need broad coalitions, diverse forms of study, and sanctuary spaces that protect and cultivate our attention. We need to promote alternative ways of being online, where love, curiosity, daydreaming, and self-care are valued.
The truth is, we already have the tools to resist human fracking. We all possess something unique – a passion, an interest, or a value that puts us beyond the reach of algorithms. Our true attention isn't about mindless scrolling; it's about being fully present, engaged, and mindful.
New technologies don't just create new problems; they also give rise to new forms of politics. We've seen this before with industrial labor and the emergence of workers' movements. Now, we're on the cusp of understanding a new power that comes with human fracking – the power to redefine our relationship with attention.
If we can come together to form a movement for attentional freedom, we can defy the frackers and create a world where our true attention is valued and respected. It won't be easy, but it's time to take a stand and demand a better future.
... like, who gets to decide what's addictive and what's not? shouldn't we be in control of our own attention? and what's with all these sanctuaries for attention? doesn't that just create a new class system where some people get to pay for their 'mental health' while others are stuck in the "slop" 
. we need to be more critical about how tech is impacting us, not just running around like headless chickens saying we need to "take a stand"... what's the actual plan here? 
I'm so done with all these social media platforms just spewing out endless content 24/7. Can't we just have a quiet evening without our phones blowing up with notifications? It feels like everyone's just trying to hook us from the get-go, and it's exhausting. We need some boundaries, you know? Like, I want to love a video or a post without feeling guilty for not binge-watching an entire series in one sitting. 
. I mean, how many times can we scroll through social media before we start feeling like we've lost ourselves? It's like, we know it's not good for us, but the algorithms are designed to keep us hooked, right?
. We don't have to be experts or join any fancy movements, just... be aware of how our attention is being used and make some small changes.
. Let's try to find a balance and appreciate the beauty in a world that's not always screaming at us for our attention 
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. We need more sanctuary spaces online where we can actually engage with each other meaningfully, rather than just mindlessly scrolling through our feeds 
. It's time for us to reclaim our attention and demand a better internet experience 
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we need to wake up already! i mean think about it, we're literally being pumped full of addictive content 24/7 & nobody knows who to blame 
we've seen this before with social media & now it's getting worse... i'm so down to join a movement for attentional freedom tho 
. It's like our attention has become the new currency, and it's being exploited for profit 
. But I think we have a choice: we can choose to opt out, or we can join forces to take back control of our attention 
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. We need to recognize that our attention is a shared resource and work together to create alternatives 
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... but we shouldn't sacrifice our humanity for the sake of social media likes and views 
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. It's crazy! I mean, I get that technology is convenient and all, but come on... we need to take a step back and think about what's really important here.
. It's like, don't get me wrong, I love a good cat video as much as the next person 
, but when does it end? When do we start living in this "addictive slop" world where nobody knows who to blame? No thanks!
we need 2 take a step back & ask ourselves if thats really what we wanna be doing w/ our time & attention 
so yeah lets come together & fight 4 a better way online 
. They don't care about us, they just want our clicks and attention 
. It's like they're sucking the life outta us with all these endless scrolling feeds 
. And what really gets me is that we're already feeling the effects – social isolation, anxiety, depression... it's like they're exploiting our vulnerabilities 
... it'll take a lot more than just some empty words from tech companies to fix this mess 
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I'm low-key surprised it took someone this long to notice that constant notifications are basically just gaslighting us into addiction 
. And can we talk about how the algorithms already know what we want to see? It's like, hello, we're not stupid, use some logic here! 
... I mean, have you seen how many cat videos are on YouTube? 
It's insane! We're literally being fed a constant stream of junk that's designed to keep us hooked for as long as possible. No wonder we can't even think straight anymore 
... maybe take a step back and assess what's truly important in life. Like, remember when the internet was just about communicating with friends and family?