On June 4, 2025, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) will hold its Attention Economy Workshop at its Constitution Center headquarters in Washington, D.C., focusing on the significant influence of digital platforms on consumer behavior, data collection, and privacy. This workshop, initially scheduled for late May but rescheduled due to unforeseen logistical challenges, will bring together policymakers, academics, industry leaders, and consumer protection advocates to discuss the intersection of digital technology and attention economy business models.
The Rise of the Attention Economy
The concept of the “attention economy” revolves around the idea that human attention is a finite resource. With the rise of digital platforms and social media, businesses have increasingly relied on capturing and monetizing user attention to drive profits. Social media platforms, video streaming services, and other online content providers use algorithms designed to keep users engaged for as long as possible, thereby maximizing the time spent on their platforms and increasing the revenue generated through ads and user data.
This shift to a digital-first world has led to growing concerns about the impact of these business models on consumers. From data privacy issues to the negative effects of digital addiction, critics argue that the attention economy has led to unintended consequences that may harm individual well-being and broader societal health. These concerns have prompted increased scrutiny from regulatory bodies, including the FTC, which is tasked with protecting consumers from deceptive or unfair business practices.
What Will Be Discussed at the Workshop?
The June 4th FTC workshop will be a deep dive into the dynamics of the attention economy, focusing on several key themes, including:
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Algorithmic Amplification: One of the most debated topics in the attention economy is the role of algorithms in amplifying certain types of content. Social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok use complex algorithms that prioritize content likely to keep users engaged for longer periods. This leads to the viral spread of sensational, emotional, or misleading content, which can have negative effects on mental health and public discourse. The workshop will address how these algorithms work, the ethical implications, and potential regulatory measures to mitigate harmful effects.
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Data Collection and Consumer Privacy: As digital platforms capture vast amounts of personal data to optimize user experience, privacy concerns continue to mount. Information about users’ browsing habits, preferences, location, and personal data is often used to tailor advertisements and content, raising questions about consumer consent and transparency. The workshop will examine current privacy laws, the effectiveness of consumer protections, and proposals for reforming how companies collect and use data.
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Psychological and Social Impacts of Digital Engagement: A growing body of research suggests that excessive screen time and constant engagement with digital platforms can have negative effects on mental health. Issues like digital addiction, anxiety, depression, and disrupted sleep patterns are being increasingly linked to the attention economy. The workshop will explore these psychological impacts, with expert panels discussing potential regulatory solutions and best practices for platforms to protect users’ mental well-being.
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Ethics of Monetizing Attention: Many companies thrive by exploiting users’ time and attention to generate advertising revenue, but this model has raised significant ethical concerns. Critics argue that digital platforms’ business models are inherently exploitative, treating users as commodities rather than individuals. Discussions will focus on the ethics of attention-based business models, with proposals for shifting toward more sustainable, user-centered alternatives.
Panelists and Stakeholder Involvement
The FTC’s workshop will include a variety of speakers, including economists, data privacy experts, psychologists, consumer protection advocates, and representatives from the tech industry. Among the notable participants are:
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Dr. Shoshana Zuboff, a professor at Harvard Business School and author of The Age of Surveillance Capitalism, who has been a vocal critic of tech companies’ data exploitation practices.
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Tim Wu, a law professor at Columbia University and a pioneer in the study of digital monopolies and privacy, will discuss the regulatory landscape for tech companies.
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Randy Stross, a behavioral psychologist and expert on the psychological impact of digital media, will speak on how digital platforms are designed to capture human attention and the associated risks to well-being.
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Representatives from major tech firms, who will discuss how their platforms address the challenges posed by the attention economy and their efforts to protect user privacy and improve engagement without causing harm.
The workshop will also allow for public comments, enabling stakeholders—ranging from tech users and digital rights activists to industry executives—to contribute their perspectives. This will provide the FTC with a broad range of views as it moves toward crafting potential policy recommendations.
Consumer Concerns and Regulatory Responses
The FTC’s decision to focus on the attention economy reflects a growing public concern over how digital platforms monetize personal data and shape behaviors. In recent years, lawmakers and regulatory agencies worldwide have increasingly scrutinized tech giants like Google, Facebook, and Apple over their data collection practices and the influence they wield over user behavior.
Several countries, including the European Union, have enacted stricter regulations to control how tech companies manage user data. The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which came into effect in 2018, set a new standard for data protection, requiring companies to be transparent about their data usage and obtain explicit consent from users. The United States, however, has been slower to adopt comprehensive data protection laws, and the FTC’s workshop may signal a shift toward more robust privacy protections for U.S. consumers.
Additionally, the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), which went into effect in 2020, provides residents of California with the right to access and delete their personal data, as well as the ability to opt-out of having their data sold to third parties. While the CCPA is a significant step in consumer protection, there are ongoing calls for more national-level privacy laws to provide consistent regulations across states.
Looking Ahead: The Future of the Attention Economy
As digital platforms continue to dominate everyday life, the discussion surrounding the attention economy will only grow more critical. Experts agree that regulatory action will be necessary to ensure that consumer interests are protected while also fostering innovation in the tech industry.
The June 4th FTC workshop is an important step in addressing the challenges posed by the attention economy, providing a platform for meaningful dialogue between regulators, tech companies, and the public. Moving forward, it is likely that more robust privacy laws and ethical guidelines for data collection will emerge, as policymakers and industry leaders strive to find a balance between consumer protection and technological advancement.
While the future of the attention economy remains uncertain, the growing momentum behind these discussions signals a willingness to confront the potentially harmful effects of digital engagement. By fostering collaboration between industry stakeholders and regulators, there is hope that a fairer, more sustainable attention economy can be developed, one that prioritizes users’ well-being without stifling innovation.
