The rich get richer… and so do their attention spans

By Maanya Vij, Senior Researcher - September 12, 2025

I'm susceptible to the ‘feed’ and my algorithm knows me well: I watch Becca Bloom. If you’re on TikTok, you’ve likely seen the creator who personified 'relatable' luxury with her matter-of-fact depiction of an ultra-wealthy lifestyle.

Bloom’s recent video on "Books my dad forced me to read" reminded me of a NYT op-ed by Mary Harrington from a few weeks ago - "Thinking is becoming a luxury good." Watching her casually discuss the dense philosophy that shaped her worldview while arranging flowers was a stark reminder of how this intellectual foundation was simply a given in her upbringing. The books weren't suggestions, they were non-negotiable building blocks of critical thinking.

It’s a subtle reminder that money isn't the only divide between classes, but a systemic difference in education, prioritisation and value-based lifestyles.

The new ‘cognitive junk food’ diet

Harrington’s article argues that social media is fuelling a new class divide. It’s the fast-food vs. healthy-eating debate, but for our minds. She compares our social media feeds to "a media environment that seems like the cognitive equivalent of the junk food aisle and is every bit as difficult to resist as those colorful, unhealthy packages."

She points to the split in attitudes towards screentime between American public schools vs. tech execs and Waldorf schools ($34,000 a year!). Emphasising how critical thinking, deep focus, working memory and attention levels will soon become commodities only the rich can afford.

And here's the thing - wealthy families aren't just passing down financial capital, they're cultivating cognitive capital. They're creating environments where limited screentime and focused thinking is expected, where questioning and analysis are encouraged.

More than a personal choice

Like every argument, it was hit with the "you choose how to spend your time" response. Yes, we can choose how much time and attention we give to our feeds and phones. However, it would be naive to ignore how these choices are shaped by circumstances beyond our control.

Algorithm engineers spend millions designing systems specifically to capture and hold our attention (Netflix famously said "our biggest competitor is sleep"), while economic pressures mean people turn to their phones for the dopamine hits they can't afford elsewhere.

What does this mean when the ability to think deeply becomes a class marker? When access to sustained attention and critical thinking depends on your bank balance?

This is one of the most significant shifts of our time. We are slowly witnessing the commodification of intelligence and seeing the gap widen in real time.

What are your thoughts on ‘thinking’ as luxury?

#culturalinsight #socialthinking #classdivides

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