How to Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy

One main theme, which constitutes the book’s whole premise, is that of humans and technology. The author’s focus is on finding the right balance regarding the use of technology. Odell is not, as some might assume, anti-technology; she states this very clearly in the Introduction. Her concern is with the commercialization of technology in such a way that our attention is hijacked for profit through persuasive design techniques, fear, and anxiety. She writes that this “enshrine[s] a narrow definition of productivity and ignore[s] the local, the carnal, and the poetic” (xii).

One of Odell’s main criticisms of the way technology is put to use is that it strips context from everything. She argues that context is a vital component of making meaning of the world, and it is important in terms of both physical space and time. This lack of context has the effect of flattening ideas and information for a single audience rather than being tailored to specific groups of people. Likewise, the immediate delivery of information through digital networks means that vast amounts of information can pile up instantly, leaving no time to sort through or sit with ideas before responding. It all adds up to overwhelming people to the point where they feel anxious and detached. In a sense, this same “flattening” also takes place with regard to the self, as commercial social media leave no room for changing one’s mind or for personal growth. Because everything about us is available at once online, a single image of ourselves gets projected, which is both unrealistic and unhealthy. This is the stuff of brands, not humans.

Odell advocates the use of technology that allows us to return context to the content. In Chapter 6, she discusses an early computer project called Community Memory that did just that. (This is explained in detail in the summary above.) Because its digital bulletin boards were specific to each place a kiosk was located in, they reflected the local nature and concerns of that particular locale. From there, Odell reviews some contemporary platforms that seek to provide a similar experience. The key aspect of each of them is local control and noncommercialization. The point is not to sell advertising, which changes the dynamic of how social media work. Advertising requires that the network is always humming with posts and information—not the most useful but those that prompt the most views. Instead, alternative networks focus on the usefulness of information for each specific location through more personal connections. A sparse interface also allows people time and space to formulate something they really want to say, not just reflexively respond to what pops up. These are the kinds of digital networks the author would like to see more use of for people to become more involved in their local communities.