A glossary of the
attention economy.

An informal way to describe redirecting attention between activities with different perceived returns.

In practice. Comparing an hour of entertainment with an hour of tasks is a personal choice, not guaranteed profit.

Competition for the limited time and focus people can give.

In practice. A video, a feed and an event compete for parts of the same day.

An informal description of extracting value from attention or engagement data.

In practice. The term does not identify a standard process, payout rate or technical protocol.

A metaphor for the time and value involved in using attention-funded services; not a tax owed.

In practice. 3 h/day means 1,095 h/year. That does not establish advertising revenue or money owed to you.

The method used to check that a required interaction happened.

In practice. Read what is measured, what permissions are needed and what the check can actually establish.

Apps that return part of a qualifying purchase or award points for it.

In practice. A purchase is an expense. Compare the final cost rather than treating all cashback as new income.

The capacity to make choices about digital tools, personal data and participation.

In practice. It can involve reviewing permissions or choosing alternatives. The term alone does not grant a right to platform revenue.

Offers that use presence at a place as an eligibility condition.

In practice. A store visit can require location permission and a defined campaign window.

Apps marketed as requiring little ongoing interaction after setup.

In practice. Bandwidth or research panels can involve permissions, data use and device resources. Little interaction does not mean no cost.

The balance or points required to request a particular redemption.

In practice. A minimum balance may be only one condition. Eligibility, fees or waiting periods can also apply.

Incentives tied to actions in physical places.

In practice. A visit or event check-in can be part of an offer. Its conditions determine whether there is a reward.

An incentive for referring another person under a program’s conditions.

In practice. A referral may require a qualifying signup or action. Sending a link alone may not qualify.

A comparison between a redeemable reward and the time or effort needed to obtain it.

In practice. US$0.50 for 12 minutes is US$2.50/hour before costs, assuming the reward is actually redeemable.

An offer that rewards a qualifying scan of a QR code or similar identifier.

In practice. A scan may need campaign eligibility or location checks. Scanning any QR does not automatically earn a reward.

A model that represents participation or attention-related incentives with digital tokens.

In practice. Token units, market prices and redemption rules differ. A token balance is not a guaranteed cash payout.

An interaction checked against stated criteria, such as presence or a completed action.

In practice. A verified action is not proof of a fixed monetary value or a universal fraud-free guarantee.

An informal label for offers used during waiting time.

In practice. Waiting alone is not a payment condition. A reward requires an actual offer and its qualifying action.

Programs that connect recorded walking activity with rewards under their rules.

In practice. Steps, points and cash are different units; check how the app lets you redeem.