How The Attention Economy is Devouring Gen Z | The Ezra Klein Show

The Ezra Klein Show July 8, 2025
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The Ezra Klein Show

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A host who actually does the reading. Conversations worthy of the ideas they explore. Theories and frameworks that help you see the world a little bit differently — and a little more clearly. Got a suggestion for our next episode? Or a question you wish we’d find someone to explore? Email us at [email protected].

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Donald Trump and Zohran Mamdani are both proof of how the ability to capture attention is power. And the attention economy isn’t reshaping just politics; it’s also reshaping the actual economy: the crypto market, A.I. venture capital, and how people, especially Gen Z, are making career decisions. @KylaScanlon has emerged as a leading theorist on the economics of attention and is herself a member of Gen Z. She is the author of the book “In This Economy?” and Kyla’s Newsletter on Substack. I asked her on the show to walk us through her theory of the attention economy. 0:00: Intro 1:17: The Gen Z economy 8:50: The AI ‘fog’ on the future 20:00: AI and consensus reality 26:40: Attention is infrastructure 36:35: How Trump embodies the algorithm 48:00: Digital ease and nihilism 56:36: Everything feels like crypto now 59:45: Optimism for the real world 1:04:25: Book recommendations Read the full transcript here: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/08/opinion/ezra-klein-podcast-kyla-scanlon.html Watch more on @EzraKleinShow Thoughts? Guest suggestions? Email us at [email protected]. You can find transcripts (posted midday) and more episodes of “The Ezra Klein Show” at nytimes.com/ezra-klein-podcast. Book recommendations from all our guests are listed at https://www.nytimes.com/article/ezra-klein-show-book-recs.html

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