Grace Min

Grace Min

Surveying Social Media and the Commodification of Attention
My area of interest centers on digital consumption through social media and the ways in which user attention is deliberately hijacked, monitored, and monetized for corporate interests. Within this, my work examines how social media platforms manipulate human psychology, identity, relationships, and biology in order to sustain addiction and maximize engagement. This interest developed through personal experience. I became increasingly aware of my own addiction to social media, particularly how short-form content diminished my attention span, how much value I placed on my online self-presentation, and how deeply my thoughts and behaviors were shaped by algorithm-driven content. This awareness intensified after viewing The Social Dilemma, in which former technology insiders openly discuss the mechanisms used to addict users and the ethical consequences of these platforms. The film further radicalized my critical stance toward social media.

My method of practice incorporates printed material, including posters that explore themes of social identity, surveillance, and control, as well as zines and projects that hybridize analog and digital means. This work is important because social media has become deeply embedded in everyday life. Increasing digital connectivity is causing nearly everyone to participate in online platforms, often without fully understanding their long-term consequences. This is especially concerning as new generations are born into a digitized environment. Social media is not a neutral tool but a powerful system shaping attention, behavior, and identity in ways that will have lasting implications for the future.

Set of 28–32 page booklets