In the Battle for Attention

Slop is gaining ground. Low-quality content, including AI-generated trash, is advancing on all fronts for attention. Whether it’s encouraged competitive behavior on social media or regurgitated content gobbled back up and spit back out via LLMs, we’re reaching a point very quickly where our attention is being spent on shit we never should’ve seen in our entire lives. I’ve long-held a belief that “discovery” features on social media only serve to elevate content I don’t want to see. The work required to find what I do want to see is essential, because it guarantees my genuine interest. I went looking for it, and it’s worth finding. The moment something is brought to my attention, I have to question the reason and rationale it was delivered to my eyeballs. Who does it benefit? Me, or someone else? Probably someone else. (Unless it’s delivered by a friend, giving an honest-to-god recommendation. If that’s the case, thank you. I love you.) Because we’re in a battle for attention and…