Frequency Illusion
Once you notice something for the first time, you suddenly seem to see it everywhere.
What it means
The frequency illusion - also called the Baader-Meinhof phenomenon - is the experience of learning about something new and then suddenly noticing it everywhere. You hear an unfamiliar word for the first time, and within days you encounter it three more times. You consider buying a particular car, and suddenly the roads seem full of them. It feels like the universe is highlighting something just for you.
It's not. What's actually happening is a combination of two biases working together. First, selective attention: once something is on your radar, your brain starts flagging it whenever it appears, whereas before it was filtered out as irrelevant noise. Second, confirmation bias: each new sighting reinforces your belief that this thing is suddenly appearing more frequently, while you ignore the vast amount of time when it doesn't appear.
The frequency illusion is completely harmless most of the time - it's just a quirk of attention. But it can become problematic when it feeds into superstitious thinking or conspiracy theories. If you start believing that the universe is sending you signals through coincidences, the frequency illusion is usually the more mundane explanation.
In the real world
A friend mentions a band you've never heard of. Within the next week, you see their name on a poster, hear one of their songs in a shop, and notice someone wearing their t-shirt. It feels like they've suddenly exploded in popularity. In reality, all of those things were probably happening before - you just weren't tuned in. Your attention has a new filter now, and it's catching everything that matches.
The thought to hold onto
When something seems to appear everywhere after you first notice it, it hasn't become more common. You've just become more aware. Your attention is a spotlight, not a magnet.