Aarushi Bhandari

Aarushi Bhandari’s current research trajectory focuses on the attention economy and the economies constructed for information and communication technologies (ICTs), especially the internet and social media. Her book, Attention and Alienation: The International Political Economy of ICTs, is releasing on July 1, 2025, with Columbia University Press. The book presents quantitative data on internet and mobile penetration across the world from 1990–2020 to unpack the historical impacts these technologies have had on different elements of global change, including international development and social movements. Throughout the book, Bhandari weaves in narratives about her own experiences growing up as a young millennial girl during the Nepali Civil War. These narratives provide the contexts, positions, and perspectives that inspire her analysis of the data.

Expanding on her interests in technology and attention, Bhandari’s newer projects focus on the study of meditation and mindfulness as radical tools to reclaim attention from “big tech” firms and social media platforms. As a teacher, she is especially keen to pursue this line of inquiry to support her students, for whom digital and social media are integral aspects of living. Her next book project will be at the nexus of attention, mindfulness, and digital technologies.