everybody please get your mobile phones out and please turn up the volume as
out and please turn up the volume as
out and please turn up the volume as loud as you can
loud as you can
loud as you can you’ll see why and when you’re done
you’ll see why and when you’re done
you’ll see why and when you’re done please stick your phone into the air so
please stick your phone into the air so
please stick your phone into the air so I can see when a majority has actually
I can see when a majority has actually
I can see when a majority has actually done it and I’d like to start with a
done it and I’d like to start with a
done it and I’d like to start with a couple of questions I see a majority now
couple of questions I see a majority now
couple of questions I see a majority now has it but for whom was reaching for
has it but for whom was reaching for
has it but for whom was reaching for their smartphone the very first thing
their smartphone the very first thing
their smartphone the very first thing they did this morning majority and who
they did this morning majority and who
they did this morning majority and who since leaving the house has not been
since leaving the house has not been
since leaving the house has not been further than one meter away from his or
further than one meter away from his or
further than one meter away from his or her smartphone we’re pretty hooked right
her smartphone we’re pretty hooked right
her smartphone we’re pretty hooked right and who there it goes and who actually
and who there it goes and who actually
and who there it goes and who actually thinks this is a good idea this is a
thinks this is a good idea this is a
thinks this is a good idea this is a good thing being connected all the time
good thing being connected all the time
good thing being connected all the time a bit less a lot less there are some few
a bit less a lot less there are some few
a bit less a lot less there are some few brave people when it’s really strange if
brave people when it’s really strange if
brave people when it’s really strange if you think about it
you think about it
you think about it that we so often want to be doing
that we so often want to be doing
that we so often want to be doing different things and checking our
different things and checking our
different things and checking our smartphones and still they keep sucking
smartphones and still they keep sucking
smartphones and still they keep sucking us in and today I want to show you that
us in and today I want to show you that
us in and today I want to show you that this is intentionally designed by
this is intentionally designed by
this is intentionally designed by Silicon Valley and that this is a bad
Silicon Valley and that this is a bad
Silicon Valley and that this is a bad thing this company’s hack our attention
thing this company’s hack our attention
thing this company’s hack our attention and with paying our attention we quite
and with paying our attention we quite
and with paying our attention we quite literally do that we pay attention and
literally do that we pay attention and
literally do that we pay attention and we cannot afford to pay attention in the
we cannot afford to pay attention in the
we cannot afford to pay attention in the vast amounts that we do it now this is
vast amounts that we do it now this is
vast amounts that we do it now this is not going to be a talk about how bad
not going to be a talk about how bad
not going to be a talk about how bad technology is I love technology I’m a
technology is I love technology I’m a
technology is I love technology I’m a journalist covering technology I could
journalist covering technology I could
journalist covering technology I could not live without it I could not envision
not live without it I could not envision
not live without it I could not envision working without it hey this was even my
working without it hey this was even my
working without it hey this was even my profile picture at one point but I do
profile picture at one point but I do
profile picture at one point but I do notice that my own device behavior is
notice that my own device behavior is
notice that my own device behavior is getting ever stranger and more
getting ever stranger and more
getting ever stranger and more compulsive I installed an app to check
compulsive I installed an app to check
compulsive I installed an app to check how many hours a day I’m on this device
how many hours a day I’m on this device
how many hours a day I’m on this device and it reaches up to four to five hours
and it reaches up to four to five hours
and it reaches up to four to five hours a day
a day
a day I even regularly experience a phenomenon
I even regularly experience a phenomenon
I even regularly experience a phenomenon called phantom vibrations where I feel
called phantom vibrations where I feel
called phantom vibrations where I feel it in my pocket when it’s not even there
it in my pocket when it’s not even there
it in my pocket when it’s not even there so hey I’m Bowser and I’m an addict
so hey I’m Bowser and I’m an addict
so hey I’m Bowser and I’m an addict and by the time probably you’ve heard a
and by the time probably you’ve heard a
and by the time probably you’ve heard a couple of sounds in the audience and I’m
couple of sounds in the audience and I’m
couple of sounds in the audience and I’m not alone I think I’m not the only one
not alone I think I’m not the only one
not alone I think I’m not the only one who is addicted and sounds are not the
who is addicted and sounds are not the
who is addicted and sounds are not the only way that these companies get your
only way that these companies get your
only way that these companies get your attention probably by now it’s a good
attention probably by now it’s a good
attention probably by now it’s a good idea if we switched our phones off again
idea if we switched our phones off again
idea if we switched our phones off again to have our full focus back on the stage
to have our full focus back on the stage
to have our full focus back on the stage again but this these sounds are not the
again but this these sounds are not the
again but this these sounds are not the only ways that these companies get our
only ways that these companies get our
only ways that these companies get our attention there are many other ways as
attention there are many other ways as
attention there are many other ways as well one of the things they do is the
well one of the things they do is the
well one of the things they do is the companies have figured out how our
companies have figured out how our
companies have figured out how our dopamine systems work dopamine the
dopamine systems work dopamine the
dopamine systems work dopamine the happiness hormone the stuff that we make
happiness hormone the stuff that we make
happiness hormone the stuff that we make when we have fun when we make love when
when we have fun when we make love when
when we have fun when we make love when we do all kinds of other things and as
we do all kinds of other things and as
we do all kinds of other things and as it happens also when we do things on our
it happens also when we do things on our
it happens also when we do things on our smartphones and companies have figured
smartphones and companies have figured
smartphones and companies have figured out how our dopamine systems work and
out how our dopamine systems work and
out how our dopamine systems work and have learned how to use our smartphones
have learned how to use our smartphones
have learned how to use our smartphones as pocket-sized dopamine pumps to get us
as pocket-sized dopamine pumps to get us
as pocket-sized dopamine pumps to get us ever more hooked and how do they do it
ever more hooked and how do they do it
ever more hooked and how do they do it well let’s give you an example humans
well let’s give you an example humans
well let’s give you an example humans have an inherent nature to create order
have an inherent nature to create order
have an inherent nature to create order right when you clean your room when you
right when you clean your room when you
right when you clean your room when you tidy your desk you make a nice little
tidy your desk you make a nice little
tidy your desk you make a nice little burst of dopamine and these companies
burst of dopamine and these companies
burst of dopamine and these companies know this so what do they do on your
know this so what do they do on your
know this so what do they do on your home screen they disturb this order with
home screen they disturb this order with
home screen they disturb this order with push noise messages so by the time you
push noise messages so by the time you
push noise messages so by the time you click the push message you create order
click the push message you create order
click the push message you create order and you get a nice little rush of
and you get a nice little rush of
and you get a nice little rush of dopamine and do you think it’s a
dopamine and do you think it’s a
dopamine and do you think it’s a coincidence that these push messages are
coincidence that these push messages are
coincidence that these push messages are read are naturally pre-programmed color
read are naturally pre-programmed color
read are naturally pre-programmed color of alarm the color of blood it’s not a
of alarm the color of blood it’s not a
of alarm the color of blood it’s not a coincidence it’s been tested and this is
coincidence it’s been tested and this is
coincidence it’s been tested and this is why they’re there scholar and this app
why they’re there scholar and this app
why they’re there scholar and this app right behind me snapchat they play into
right behind me snapchat they play into
right behind me snapchat they play into all kinds of other psychological
all kinds of other psychological
all kinds of other psychological mechanisms this is a function called
mechanisms this is a function called
mechanisms this is a function called snap streaks which lets users know how
snap streaks which lets users know how
snap streaks which lets users know how many days in a row they’ve been snapping
many days in a row they’ve been snapping
many days in a row they’ve been snapping playing into our psychological need to
playing into our psychological need to
playing into our psychological need to create needs orderly rows of numbers and
create needs orderly rows of numbers and
create needs orderly rows of numbers and to play games and how about these
to play games and how about these
to play games and how about these mentions that you get in Facebook or
mentions that you get in Facebook or
mentions that you get in Facebook or Twitter do you think it’s a coincidence
Twitter do you think it’s a coincidence
Twitter do you think it’s a coincidence that when you open the app there’s a
that when you open the app there’s a
that when you open the app there’s a slight lag between the time you open the
slight lag between the time you open the
slight lag between the time you open the app and you actually see the number of
app and you actually see the number of
app and you actually see the number of mentions that you have it’s a deliberate
mentions that you have it’s a deliberate
mentions that you have it’s a deliberate design feature borrowing from slot
design feature borrowing from slot
design feature borrowing from slot machines building suspense creating this
machines building suspense creating this
machines building suspense creating this tension and play
tension and play
tension and play into the very same psychological
into the very same psychological
into the very same psychological weaknesses as slot machines do and the
weaknesses as slot machines do and the
weaknesses as slot machines do and the clock in Netflix ticking down when you
clock in Netflix ticking down when you
clock in Netflix ticking down when you finish your episode also that is a
finish your episode also that is a
finish your episode also that is a design feature borrowed from all kinds
design feature borrowed from all kinds
design feature borrowed from all kinds of other science to get our attention as
of other science to get our attention as
of other science to get our attention as good as they can and why do these
good as they can and why do these
good as they can and why do these companies do this because we live in an
companies do this because we live in an
companies do this because we live in an attention economy where every second we
attention economy where every second we
attention economy where every second we spend on an app is an extra dollar or
spend on an app is an extra dollar or
spend on an app is an extra dollar or euro earned for its maker
euro earned for its maker
euro earned for its maker the longer we spend on apps the more
the longer we spend on apps the more
the longer we spend on apps the more data that can harvest the more ads they
data that can harvest the more ads they
data that can harvest the more ads they can show us and this leads to an ever
can show us and this leads to an ever
can show us and this leads to an ever escalating arms race for our attention
escalating arms race for our attention
escalating arms race for our attention and this leads to a to addiction
and this leads to a to addiction
and this leads to a to addiction manufacturing the likes of which we have
manufacturing the likes of which we have
manufacturing the likes of which we have not seen since Big Tobacco and what the
not seen since Big Tobacco and what the
not seen since Big Tobacco and what the tricky thing about attention is because
tricky thing about attention is because
tricky thing about attention is because that’s what they target is that
that’s what they target is that
that’s what they target is that attention works quite differently from
attention works quite differently from
attention works quite differently from what many people may think we only have
what many people may think we only have
what many people may think we only have one attention
one attention
one attention we cannot multitask multitasking is a
we cannot multitask multitasking is a
we cannot multitask multitasking is a myth attention works like a flashlight
myth attention works like a flashlight
myth attention works like a flashlight not like a disco ball you can only shine
not like a disco ball you can only shine
not like a disco ball you can only shine your light and your beam of attention to
your light and your beam of attention to
your light and your beam of attention to one place at a time and when you try to
one place at a time and when you try to
one place at a time and when you try to switch that bring switching costs and
switch that bring switching costs and
switch that bring switching costs and what do these costs consist of well it
what do these costs consist of well it
what do these costs consist of well it actually makes us dumber that’s very
actually makes us dumber that’s very
actually makes us dumber that’s very interesting research by London
interesting research by London
interesting research by London University showing that if you do an IQ
University showing that if you do an IQ
University showing that if you do an IQ test while multitasking that will get
test while multitasking that will get
test while multitasking that will get your score down by 15 points which is
your score down by 15 points which is
your score down by 15 points which is the same effect as smoking weed and the
the same effect as smoking weed and the
the same effect as smoking weed and the other tricky part as with attention is
other tricky part as with attention is
other tricky part as with attention is that attention works like a muscle the
that attention works like a muscle the
that attention works like a muscle the more you use it the stronger it gets and
more you use it the stronger it gets and
more you use it the stronger it gets and the less you use it the weaker it gets
the less you use it the weaker it gets
the less you use it the weaker it gets and this leads to a very interesting
and this leads to a very interesting
and this leads to a very interesting fact because it now becomes in the
fact because it now becomes in the
fact because it now becomes in the interest of the big companies like
interest of the big companies like
interest of the big companies like Google like Facebook to make our
Google like Facebook to make our
Google like Facebook to make our attention muscles as weak as they can as
attention muscles as weak as they can as
attention muscles as weak as they can as weak as possible because when you’re
weak as possible because when you’re
weak as possible because when you’re distracted you’re even easily distracted
distracted you’re even easily distracted
distracted you’re even easily distracted it’s a vicious cycle if this sounds like
it’s a vicious cycle if this sounds like
it’s a vicious cycle if this sounds like a conspiracy theory it really is not
a conspiracy theory it really is not
a conspiracy theory it really is not these companies do this in plain sight
these companies do this in plain sight
these companies do this in plain sight they are not even secretive about it
they are not even secretive about it
they are not even secretive about it they openly am proud and proudly hold
they openly am proud and proudly hold
they openly am proud and proudly hold conference about this they organize TED
conference about this they organize TED
conference about this they organize TED talks about this day
talks about this day
talks about this day published books about this this is
published books about this this is
published books about this this is actually a screenshot from the summit in
actually a screenshot from the summit in
actually a screenshot from the summit in Silicon Valley which is a yearly event
Silicon Valley which is a yearly event
Silicon Valley which is a yearly event called the habit summit of course they
called the habit summit of course they
called the habit summit of course they wouldn’t call it the addiction summit
wouldn’t call it the addiction summit
wouldn’t call it the addiction summit because that would sound too harsh but
because that would sound too harsh but
because that would sound too harsh but that’s exactly what they are
that’s exactly what they are
that’s exactly what they are manufacturing at these summits they’re
manufacturing at these summits they’re
manufacturing at these summits they’re exchanging tricks and you can see on the
exchanging tricks and you can see on the
exchanging tricks and you can see on the slide they’re talking about the nucleus
slide they’re talking about the nucleus
slide they’re talking about the nucleus accumbens which is a part of the brain
accumbens which is a part of the brain
accumbens which is a part of the brain that triggers the dopamine releases and
that triggers the dopamine releases and
that triggers the dopamine releases and where does this end well I work in media
where does this end well I work in media
where does this end well I work in media and I’ve seen media changed quite badly
and I’ve seen media changed quite badly
and I’ve seen media changed quite badly over the last few years where even
over the last few years where even
over the last few years where even serious media have succumbed to sending
serious media have succumbed to sending
serious media have succumbed to sending out push notifications and not only for
out push notifications and not only for
out push notifications and not only for breaking news I myself might have
breaking news I myself might have
breaking news I myself might have written some clickbait headlines as well
written some clickbait headlines as well
written some clickbait headlines as well although I’ve never had a scoop quite
although I’ve never had a scoop quite
although I’ve never had a scoop quite like this one before but we see where
like this one before but we see where
like this one before but we see where this is headed and we see what happens
this is headed and we see what happens
this is headed and we see what happens if also communicating presidential
if also communicating presidential
if also communicating presidential policy becomes part of this attention
policy becomes part of this attention
policy becomes part of this attention economy and we’ve seen just this week
economy and we’ve seen just this week
economy and we’ve seen just this week with the investigation in in the US
with the investigation in in the US
with the investigation in in the US Congress about Facebook and the u.s.
Congress about Facebook and the u.s.
Congress about Facebook and the u.s. elections what happens if our democracy
elections what happens if our democracy
elections what happens if our democracy becomes part of this attention economy
becomes part of this attention economy
becomes part of this attention economy it’s bad it’s a bad deal and it’s bad
it’s bad it’s a bad deal and it’s bad
it’s bad it’s a bad deal and it’s bad for civic society so what to do well
for civic society so what to do well
for civic society so what to do well there’s good news too because remember
there’s good news too because remember
there’s good news too because remember that attention works like a muscle we
that attention works like a muscle we
that attention works like a muscle we can retrain it and every the way even
can retrain it and every the way even
can retrain it and every the way even the weakest muscles can be retrained to
the weakest muscles can be retrained to
the weakest muscles can be retrained to Men’s Health cover material so that’s
Men’s Health cover material so that’s
Men’s Health cover material so that’s exactly what we should do we should
exactly what we should do we should
exactly what we should do we should focus again learn how to be attentive
focus again learn how to be attentive
focus again learn how to be attentive and why not start by creating spaces for
and why not start by creating spaces for
and why not start by creating spaces for focus like our bedroom I’ve strictly
focus like our bedroom I’ve strictly
focus like our bedroom I’ve strictly banned screens from mine and it’s bliss
banned screens from mine and it’s bliss
banned screens from mine and it’s bliss I can recommend it to anybody we
I can recommend it to anybody we
I can recommend it to anybody we actually read we actually talk we
actually read we actually talk we
actually read we actually talk we actually sleep and we actually do not
actually sleep and we actually do not
actually sleep and we actually do not reach for a smartphones the very first
reach for a smartphones the very first
reach for a smartphones the very first thing in the morning and and here’s the
thing in the morning and and here’s the
thing in the morning and and here’s the smart part there’s really smart settings
smart part there’s really smart settings
smart part there’s really smart settings hidden inside your phone that you can
hidden inside your phone that you can
hidden inside your phone that you can use in your own benefit there’s a
use in your own benefit there’s a
use in your own benefit there’s a setting hidden that lets you let you put
setting hidden that lets you let you put
setting hidden that lets you let you put your screen to black and whites to make
your screen to black and whites to make
your screen to black and whites to make your phone artificially boring and at
your phone artificially boring and at
your phone artificially boring and at least those red push messages won’t
least those red push messages won’t
least those red push messages won’t bother you anymore
bother you anymore
bother you anymore get rid of push notifications turn them
get rid of push notifications turn them
get rid of push notifications turn them all off get rid of the most
all off get rid of the most
all off get rid of the most attention-grabbing apps it’s going to
attention-grabbing apps it’s going to
attention-grabbing apps it’s going to take some changing of behavior it’s
take some changing of behavior it’s
take some changing of behavior it’s going to take some experimentation but
going to take some experimentation but
going to take some experimentation but from now on I think it’s really
from now on I think it’s really
from now on I think it’s really important that we start paying more
important that we start paying more
important that we start paying more attention to our attention thank you
attention to our attention thank you
attention to our attention thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
Be First to Comment