Objective:
Understand the harms the attention economy and persuasive technology have produced, and why those harms are the result of a broken system.
Competencies:
Be Curious and Investigate the World
- Read Critically
- Seek Perspective
Express Ideas
- Synthesize Information
Think Deeply
- Social Reasoning
Overview
Persuasive technologies are constantly getting better at taking advantage of our vulnerabilities to keep us engaged and influence our behavior. It’s the result of a race for attention that is creating disastrous consequences for our wellbeing, democracy, and ability to solve our biggest problems.
In this issue guide, you’ll learn:
- The harms persuasive technology has caused for individuals and communities.
- How those harms result from a larger system.
- Why changing our individual behavior isn’t enough.
By understanding the harms of persuasive technology, as well as the systemic forces that influence it, we can start seeing how to build a world built on humane technology that operates for the common good.
Directions -
1. Read Seeing the Consequences
2. Complete the Activity
3. Publish your completed Activity under "Responses"