Geopolitics of Attention

Attention is the oil of the 21st century. And like oil, attention is fought over. Not with tanks, but with algorithms. Not for territory, but for consciousness.

This episode widens the view to the global level. We examine how states and corporations steer the attention of entire populations to achieve political goals.

It's about the "weaponization" of discourse. Disinformation campaigns that split societies. Attention wars that destabilize democracies. Narrative operations that shape realities.

The battlefields are feeds and timelines. The weapons are memes and hashtags. The casualties are trust and cohesion.

This is not a conspiracy theory. It is documented strategy. States invest billions in influencing foreign publics. Corporations optimize for engagement regardless of social costs.

The mindshift: Media literacy is not a nice additional qualification, but a matter of national and individual security.

Just as we had to learn to lock doors and cross streets, we must learn to verify information and protect attention. It is a survival skill in the 21st century.