Tag Archives: Tom Webster

21Apr/26

Affection Economy: The High Cost of Artificial Intimacy

The Commodification of Intimacy: How AI is Redefining the Attention Economy

April 20, 2026 /Mpelembe Media/ — The “affection economy” represents a strategic evolution from the traditional attention economy, moving beyond simply capturing user screen time to the commodification of emotional relations and intimacy. Driven by the rapid integration of social AI systems, technology companies are no longer just trying to influence our minds, but are actively aiming to win our hearts. Continue reading