[ SLANG ][ PSYCHOLOGY ]
The cognitive cost paid every time a notification, popup, or feed update successfully pulls focus away from whatever someone was actually doing.
REAL-WORLD EXAMPLE
"Every app on my phone is charging an attention tax I never agreed to pay."
LORE & ORIGIN
Named to frame interruption-driven engagement design as a recurring cost extracted from users rather than a neutral feature.
FIRST SEEN
2025
PEAK POPULARITY
2025-2026 (Algorithmic Drift Era)
CURRENT STATUS
Mainstream Gen Alpha Slang
Related To:Signal FloodFeed FrictionScroll Budget
AURA IMPACT ⓘ
+20 AURA
TREND STATUS
↑ HIGH RISING FAST · HIGH
CULTURE CATEGORY
[ SLANG ][ PSYCHOLOGY ]
RELATED TERMS
MENTIONS OVER TIME
2023202420252026
RELATED SEARCHES
TOP PLATFORMS
TikTok
68%
YouTube
15%
Twitter / X
9%
Reddit
5%
Others
3%
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