Who Has Your Attention?

A few weeks ago, I bought a facial cleanser; nothing fancy, just a popular brand my sister recommended. I didn’t Google it. I didn’t check reviews. I just trusted her word and picked it off the shelf. Simple.

But the simple turned strange.

A day later, I was scrolling through my social media feed, and boom—there it was. Ads from that exact brand. Not a similar product. The exact one I had purchased. I froze. I hadn’t searched for it online. I hadn’t spoken about it near my phone. So how?

For a moment, I was tongue-tied. Was my phone spying on me? Could social media read my thoughts?

While it might sound like sci-fi, it’s not paranoia; it’s patterns.

How Did They Know? The Algorithm Isn’t Magic; It’s Math.

Here’s the unnerving truth: companies today use a mix of data aggregation, behavioral prediction, location tracking, and even shared Wi-Fi networks to serve you eerily precise content. You may not search, but your proximity to someone who did, your purchase history synced to an app, or even passive data from your device can become fair game.

A 2018 study by the University of Oxford revealed that predictive algorithms could determine personal traits—like religion, relationship status, or mood; based solely on social media activity. Other research confirms that location permissions, cookies, and interconnected devices quietly feed platforms with enough information to guess your behavior even before you make a move.

They don’t read your thoughts. But they read your patterns so well, it feels like they do.

Attention: The Currency of the Digital Age

Whoever or whatever has your attention… has your life.

And in today’s world, your attention is the most sought-after asset. Social media platforms are designed with one primary goal: to keep you on them for as long as possible. Every scroll, like, watch, and click teaches the algorithm how to serve you more of what hooks you.

From reels to trends, motivational soundbites to memes, the feed is tailored not just to entertain—but to ensnare. The goal isn’t to serve you; it’s to shape you.

So here’s the real question: How did we, a generation hungry for meaning, get addicted to amusement?

From Purpose to Pleasure: A Subtle Shift

It didn’t happen overnight. As responsibilities grew and life became noisier, we all began seeking quick escapes—little hits of dopamine to ease the overwhelm. Self-development, spiritual growth, family, purpose, career… all require intentional effort.

But social media? Just tap and scroll.

And slowly, amusement replaced meditation. Scrolling substituted seeking. Our attention span shrunk. Not because we didn’t care but because the platforms we use were designed to make us care less about what truly matters.

The Great Hijack: Are We Entertaining Ourselves to Death?

Neil Postman’s Amusing Ourselves to Death warned us back in 1985. He didn’t write about TikTok or Instagram, but he saw it coming: a culture so saturated in entertainment that it could no longer discern distraction from truth, relevance from noise.

And here we are.

The most connected generation in history, and yet deeply disconnected from God, self, and purpose. Not because we’re lazy, but because we’re unaware that our attention is being monetized. The algorithm isn’t evil—it’s just doing its job. The question is: Are we doing ours?

The Place of God in Your Feed

King Solomon, after tasting all the world had to offer; wealth, wine, women, wisdom—summed up life’s true purpose in one sentence:

“Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.”
—Ecclesiastes 12:13

That’s it.

Not how many followers you have. Not how viral your last post went. Not how curated your life looks. But whether your attention is aligned with your Creator.

Where is the place of God in your life?
Does He have your attention; or does your algorithm?

How to Take Back Your Attention: From Amusement to Intentionality

We’re not saying social media is bad. It’s a tool. But every tool can either build or break depending on who wields it and how.

Here’s how to reclaim your focus:

1. Audit Your Inputs
   What content dominates your feed? Who are you listening to? Your inputs shape your inner world.
2. Establish Sacred Time
   Before you touch your phone in the morning, touch base with God. Give Him your first attention, not the world.
3. Unplug to Reconnect
   Take intentional breaks. A weekly social media Sabbath. One hour of stillness daily. Journal. Pray. Think.
4. Curate for Purpose
   Follow accounts that feed your spirit, expand your mind, and inspire action—not just amusement.
5. Pursue God’s Purpose Relentlessly
   Invest your attention in growth, calling, and becoming who God created you to be. Nothing is more fulfilling.

Who Has Your Eyes?

We only have one life. And what we give our attention to today becomes our reality tomorrow.

So ask yourself:
Is your attention planting seeds for the future you desire?
Or are you scrolling through a life that could’ve been lived intentionally?

Let God recapture your attention. He’s not fighting the algorithm; He’s simply waiting for your eyes to return to Him.

The platforms may want your time. But your Creator wants your heart.

Further read Break the Feed: Why Your Future is Bigger than the Algorithm

Read on Navigating the Digital World: A Call for Wisdom and Sobriety