The primary objective of historical inventions was to alleviate human effort and save time. But with the advent of digital technology, this dynamic seems to be reversing. Many contemporary inventions and digital products are designed more to consume our time than to free it, marking a departure from the original mission of technological advancement.
In the digital landscape, time has become the new currency. Websites are designed to captivate our attention, keeping us hooked for as long as possible. The more time we spend on these platforms, the more revenue they generate through advertisements or data collection. This is true for social media platforms, news websites, online gaming, and even educational platforms. They all employ strategies to increase user engagement, measured in time spent on their platforms.
The rise of streaming services like Netflix illustrates this concept well. These platforms thrive on the “binge-watching” culture, continually suggesting new shows and using algorithms to recommend content based on our viewing history. As a result, we often spend hours caught in a cycle of continuous viewing, which benefits these platforms both in terms of advertisement revenue and subscription renewals.
Apps on our smartphones follow a similar strategy. They employ numerous techniques, such as push notifications and regular updates, to keep us returning. Gaming apps use daily rewards or competitive leaderboards to make us play more. Social media apps create a fear of missing out (FOMO) with constant updates and notifications.
E-commerce platforms also follow this trend, continually suggesting new products based on our purchase and browsing history, incentivizing us to spend more time and money. Even productivity apps, designed to help us manage our time better, often end up consuming more of it due to their addictive nature.
However, it’s essential to recognize this trend and understand the value of our time. Time is a non-renewable resource, and every moment spent on these platforms is a moment we can’t reclaim. While these digital products offer entertainment, connection, and convenience, they can also lead to excessive time consumption and even addiction if not managed properly.
As users and consumers, we need to strike a balance between utilizing digital products for their benefits and preventing them from monopolizing our time. We must remember that although these platforms are free to use, if we’re not paying for the product, we are the product. So, let’s use digital technology as a tool to enhance our lives, not as a trap that consumes our most precious resource: time.