Attention theft

Attention theft is a theory in economic sociology and psychology which describes situations in which marketers serve advertisements to consumers who have not consented to view them and who are given nothing in return.

[2][4] Examples of this type of content can include bold animations, crowded designs, and frequent or unnecessary notifications.

[citation needed] Commonly cited examples of attention theft include billboards, apps that send out promotional notifications, sound trucks, email spam, and TV screens with mostly or entirely promotional content in locations with a captive audience, such as gas stations, airplanes, waiting rooms, and taxis.

[1] They argue that it contributes to information overload, leading to negative health outcomes, and infringes upon freedom of thought.

[1] Writing in Wired in 2017, legal scholar Tim Wu urged municipal governments to pass laws prohibiting some instances of attention theft.

Billboards are a commonly cited example of attention theft.
Sound trucks are frequently used in Japan to broadcast political or commercial messages in residential neighbourhoods.