Türkiye (Brussels Morning) In an era where digital footprints are the new gold, the concept of surveillance capitalism has emerged as a fundamental challenge to our democratic values. This phenomenon, along with shrinking personal attention spans driven by constant digital stimulation, poses a unique threat to the foundations of individual autonomy and democracy.
Surveillance capitalism, a term coined by Shoshana Zuboff, refers to the monetization of personal data collected through digital engagement. Unlike traditional capitalism, which relies on producing goods, surveillance capitalism thrives on the extraction and analysis of data. This data, often collected without explicit consent, is used to predict and influence consumer behavior, raising significant concerns about privacy and autonomy.
Parallel to the rise of surveillance capitalism is the issue of diminishing attention spans. The constant barrage of notifications, personalized social media feeds, endless scrolling, and digital entertainment has fragmented our ability to focus. In the last ten years, it’s hard to find people who can still read deeply for a long time. Most people delay their work and have trouble sticking to their daily plans.
It’s also very common to see a young child, about 2 to 6 years old, busy with a smart tablet. Many people now devote nearly all their free time to scrolling through the Instagram and TikTok ‘Discover’ sections, which are curated by algorithms. Additionally, it’s becoming increasingly common for individuals to frequently check their phones for a quick ‘rest’ between tasks, or to immediately reach for their devices whenever they have a break.
As think tank professionals, our primary function is to generate and disseminate new information and data to the public. However, the shortening of attention spans has significantly impacted our work. Over the past decade, crafting analyses or articles only consumes about 20 percent of our time and energy.
The remaining 80 percent is dedicated to distributing these ideas, adapting them to the brevity demanded by modern communication channels. Nowadays, internal discussions often revolve around the necessity of brevity: ‘This report is too long. Let’s create at least five Instagram posts, each no more than ten sentences. We need videos under 30 seconds, a couple of TikToks to convey the core message, and perhaps a catchy hashtag should suffice. The emphasis is perpetually on being quicker, briefer, and crafting the most visually appealing content.
While there’s general acceptance of the need for creativity, the underlying issue is the presumption that it’s normal for nobody to have the time, energy, or concentration to engage with any content for even three minutes. This mindset is far from normal. For the first time as a liberal and a supporter of capitalism, I find myself having to admit that this new kind of capitalism is ‘forcing’ me to accept these short, cut-off ways of communication as normal. But giving in is not something I do. I won’t agree to this as the new normal.
The Impact on Democracy
This erosion of attention is not just a personal concern; it has broader implications for how we engage with complex societal issues. In a world where headlines and sound bites reign supreme, the depth and nuance required for democratic deliberation are often lost. I have two reasons to believe so. First, the current situation represents a shift in power dynamics, where information is a currency and those who control it wield significant influence. This power imbalance challenges democratic principles, as informed consent and individual agency are eroded.
The ability to manipulate opinions through targeted advertising and curated content threatens the very fabric of democratic discourse. The Cambridge Analytica scandal highlighted the dangers of using personal data to influence electoral outcomes. Similarly, the rise of deepfakes and misinformation campaigns demonstrates how easily public opinion can be swayed in an age of reduced attention spans.
Second, the intersection of surveillance capitalism and shortening attention spans creates a volatile mix for democratic societies. On one hand, the constant data collection influences our choices and perceptions without our full awareness. On the other, our reduced capacity to engage deeply with information hinders our ability to critically assess the world around us. This combination can lead to a populace that is easily manipulated and less equipped to participate meaningfully in democratic processes. Think about the people who worked hard for many years to make sure everyone had the same rights and could live in a fair world. These people never gave up.
They had to keep going even when things got really tough. They were locked up, some were hurt badly, and some even died for what they believed in. Women, for a long time, had to fight just to be treated the same as men. Black people and members of the LGBT+ community have been fighting for their rights for a long time, and their struggle continues today.
They all spent a lot of their lives, their money, and their energy to make these changes happen. Now, imagine if these people had just said, “No one will read a long story about why this is important, so let’s just write two short sentences and leave it at that.” Or if they kept putting off their work and said, “I’ll start next week, but really, no one has time to read this, and I keep getting distracted, so let’s talk about it next month.” If they did that, we wouldn’t have the rights we have today. It took more than a quick look; it took a lot of work and time to make things better.
Democracies around the world are facing crises, and the struggle for rights and solutions is far from over. But a critical question arises: How can pro-democracy forces succeed against right-wing populism, fascism, homophobia, and the climate crisis with a generation accustomed to a 10-second attention span? This generation often struggles to read more than two sentences, is addicted to rapid, endless scrolling, and primarily consumes content filtered through algorithms. Their capacity for deep analysis and sustained focus is waning, which is crucial for maintaining long-term commitment to a cause despite challenges.
In today’s fast-paced world, where people, information, goods, and services are accessible in seconds, the progress of democracy, human rights, and equality seems to have slowed to a medieval pace. Even the most advanced democratic governments are hesitant to grant new rights. People still need to engage in robust public debates and demonstrate their power to achieve their goals. In a world where many people struggle to focus on important issues for a long time or think deeply about them, we face a serious risk to how citizens participate in politics. As attention spans shorten, people might find it harder to understand or feel motivated to engage in political processes.
Those who do grasp the importance might lack the energy and sustained focus needed for active involvement. This shift could lead to a decrease in civil participation in politics, threatening the future of essential democratic rights like the freedom of assembly and association. These rights, crucial for a healthy democracy, are at risk as people become more like consumers guided by algorithms, losing their connection to active and informed political engagement
This scenario creates a fertile environment for authoritarian regimes, where citizens are transformed into passive consumers of algorithmically curated content. Under these conditions, what is the future of democracy? Without a populace capable of in-depth analysis, sustained focus, and active participation in democratic processes, the very foundations of democratic society are at risk.
The challenge now is not just to fight against external threats to democracy, but also to cultivate the internal qualities necessary for its survival: deep attention, critical thinking, and prolonged commitment to democratic ideals. The future of democracy may very well depend on our ability to nurture these qualities in the face of accelerating digital transformation.
