Cognitive Surplus

About “Cognitive Surplus”

Throughout the second half of the 20th century, global television consumption increased every year. Today, people watch over one trillion hours of television annually. Clay Shirky compares this trend to the "cognitive surplus" of educated citizens, suggesting that television acts as a way to fill free time with little intellectual return. It provides entertainment, companionship, and a means to pass the time. Shirky likens television to gin in 1720s London, a tool that helped people manage modern life by softening the edges of reality. He does not label television as evil, but notes its effectiveness in absorbing leisure without producing significant outcomes.