We live in an age where expression has never been easier. There was a time when having a voice meant having access— to platforms, institutions or authority. In this context, social media was once imagined as the great equaliser, having seemingly dismantled this hierarchy. It promised a kind of digital democracy, where voice was no longer restricted by geography, status, or gatekeeping.

Today, that promise appears fulfilled on the surface. Everyone has a voice— or at least, the appearance of one— as millions speak, post, repost and react at the same time, in real time. Expression is constant and in abundance. Within this abundance lies a contradiction. If everyone is speaking at the same time, is anyone being heard?

There are many forces at work that determine what is amplified and what is lost in the noise. One of the most significant of these forces is attention— or the scarcity of it. In this loop of endless content, we find our attention to grow increasingly fleeting, fragmented and difficult to sustain. The pace at which we consume information leaves little room for depth. Articles become headlines, arguments become captions and conversations become momentary exchanges— compressed to the fit the speed of the feed. Whatever fails the modern test of being immediately engaging is replaced by something newer, sharper and more stimulating. There is........

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