Attention as a currency is an interesting mental model to approach it from, but I think it makes advertising look even more unethical. There’s no contract for

Attention as a currency is an interesting mental model to approach it from, but I think it makes advertising look even more unethical. There’s no contract for my attention, no agreement for me to pay. It makes ad supported sites less like a museum with a suggested donation box, and more like a museum with a pickpocket. Their business model may rely on that stolen money, but that doesn’t mean it’s okay. This also has me thinking about the monetary cost of ads to the viewer. Ads consume my time, my electricity, and wear and tear on computer components. It may be a faction of a penny, but ads only bring in a fraction of a penny. All without my permission.