The Sirens' Call

Examine the parallels Hayes draws between the commodification of attention in the 21st century and wage labor during the Industrial Revolution. What does this analogy reveal about the power structures of modern technology companies, and how does it highlight the limits of individual agency?

Discuss the significance of the “siren” metaphor that runs throughout the book. How does it function as both a classical literary allusion and a socio-political allegory for Alienation and Loss of Autonomy in the Digital Age?

Hayes often invokes historical and political contexts—such as the Lochner era—to illustrate the need for regulating attention. In what ways do these historical analogies enrich our understanding of his argument, and how might they shape our view of government’s role in technology? How do these historical allusions contribute to his thematic engagement with The Fragility of Democratic Discourse Under Attention Capitalism?