#rp25 speaker Philipp Lorenz-Spreen: Attention – the currency of our times

What connects notifications, news feeds on social media and the large online platforms behind them? They all require our attention. At re:publica 25, we will be discussing the consequences of this relationship and how we can regain control over our attention with social scientist Philipp Lorenz-Spreen. One thing is for sure: online platforms are demanding more and more from us. 

Google, Meta, Amazon, and others earn their money from the data that users provide – and ultimately also from their attention. This has long been known and experts thus coined the term 'attention economy'. However, the consequences this commodification has on our social interactions, opinion making as well as personal well-being still occupy  scientists. The research of Philipp Lorenz-Spreen also revolves around this question and by that particularly focuses on technological solutions.

Together with his research group 'Computational Social Sciences' at the Dresden University of Technology , he investigates the interplay between human behavior and the mechanisms of online platforms. By that, the research group tries to answer the question of how this relationship influences public discourse and thus our democracy. The central concern: How can technology be used to shape an improved information landscape in the spaces where our attention continues to be negotiated as a commodity –  so that participatory democracy can be practiced?

The motto of re:publica 25 is ‘Generation XYZ’. What is your message for future generations with regard to the digital society?

Philipp Lorenz-Spreen: "Digital society has much more to offer than commercial platforms are trying to sell us, especially things we have relied on for far too long. With a little imagination, we can challenge the status quo and create democratic online environments where we can take back control of our attention and our debates."