Group 1 - The article discusses the rise of "appearance economy" and "borderline economy," which leverage attractiveness and emotional engagement to drive consumer interest and revenue [3][4][5] - The "borderline economy" is characterized by soft hints and emotional appeals, allowing individuals to monetize their presence and interactions, particularly among young people [3][4] - The emotional economy in China is projected to grow significantly, reaching approximately 23 trillion yuan in 2024 and expected to exceed 45 trillion yuan by 2029 [4] Group 2 - The offline retail sector is increasingly adopting "borderline" marketing strategies to attract consumers amid declining foot traffic and rising vacancy rates, with over 300,000 retail closures reported this year [9][10] - Successful examples include Shenzhen's Happy Valley attracting over 40,000 visitors by employing attractive NPCs, and Haidilao's nightlife transformation leading to a table turnover rate exceeding 10 times [10][11] - The article highlights a shift in consumer behavior where individuals are willing to pay for emotional experiences, often prioritizing emotional value over traditional content [8][10] Group 3 - The pervasive entertainment culture is reshaping consumer experiences, leading to a potential dilution of cultural and social values in consumption [12][14] - The article warns against the risk of reducing consumer behavior to mere sensory stimulation, advocating for a balance between entertainment and meaningful consumption [12][14] - It emphasizes the need for consumers to maintain their autonomy and rational judgment in the face of the encroaching "borderline economy" [14]

Group 1 - Eric Schmidt, former CEO of Google, emphasizes the difficulty of maintaining focus due to constant notifications, suggesting that many researchers turn off their phones to concentrate [1][4] - Schmidt highlights the tech industry's long-standing practice of monetizing people's attention through ads, entertainment, and subscriptions, which contrasts with traditional deep thinking [4] - Research indicates that the average attention span in front of a computer screen has decreased from 2.5 minutes two decades ago to just 47 seconds today [4] Group 2 - Schmidt argues that the commercialization of attention also affects relaxation methods, advocating for turning off devices to relax in traditional ways [4] - Developers of meditation apps, such as Calm and Headspace, counter Schmidt's claims, stating that not all screen time is equal and that simply turning off devices is not a realistic solution for digital health [5]