What is an Attention Strike?

We often assume the Big Tech platforms we use daily are free. But in fact, we pay, a lot, with our attention.

These companies don't profit from us as individuals; they profit from us en masse, with millions of people spending time on their platforms, seeing ads, generating data and feeding the system. Because that's where the value lies, that's where our leverage is.

An Attention Strike is simple: it is a coordinated day off. We're calling for organised, collective pauses: single days where large numbers of people step away from one target platform, all at the same time.

These platforms depend on our attention to generate revenue, so when we withdraw it as a mass movement, we hit them financially.

We'll track our impact through a live participation dashboard which will show how many people are striking and calculate the estimated advertising revenue we've collectively withheld, i.e. how much we have cost them.

Creating space for alternatives

Attention Strikes don't just apply pressure to existing systems: they create space for something better. We're modelling dual power where, during strike days, we point people toward better, fairer alternatives — like independent media, ethical tech and just being human and spending time with each other.

Because we're also advocating for treating the picket line as a party. What opportunity can you seize when you're not beholden to social media for a day? We'll create a list of Big Tech-free events and activities that participants can take part in while striking.

This is about building a movement with real leverage, where people can reclaim their power together, and showing that a world beyond Big Tech monopoly isn't just possible. It's irresistible.