Democracy on Fast Forward: Why Our Scrolling Habits Silence Debate—and How to Reclaim Civic Attention

We live in an age where complex debates are squeezed into headlines, policy arguments are buried beneath viral distractions, and democracy itself competes with endless scrolling. Democracy on Fast Forward unpacks how fragmented media and digital overload erode thoughtful discussion, leaving citizens overwhelmed, disengaged, or misinformed.This book invites students and curious readers alike to pause, reflect, and reconnect with what really matters in public life. Through relatable examples and engaging explanations, it shows how attention works, why distraction thrives, and what we can do to rebuild the habits of deep focus that democracy requires. Far from doomscrolling despair, this is a call to awareness and empowerment: we can change how we consume information, participate in debates, and demand more from our civic culture.If you’re ready to understand today’s political attention crisis—and take back control of your own—this book is your essential starting point.