In 2010 wrote an article entitled, "The Acceleration of Addictiveness" where he argued that over the next 40 years everything technology touched would get way more addictive.
I think he was too conservative: it took 10 years, not 40.
Why and how this happened matters...
Conversation
APIs and established best practices have made the competitive surface area of software so, so much smaller. Differentiated software can no longer be solely reliant on design or back-end infrastructure.
Instead, you must compete for attention.
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🤑Charles Schwab has become FTX
🏋️♂️Jenny Craig has become Noom
🚙Chinese Takeaway has become DoorDash
Everything has become faster, notification-driven, and daily usage focused.
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Or as would say, the techno-economic paradigm has started to settle in. We are at a period in our current technology cycle where there is less new technology for firms to compete with and as such must optimize for other vectors of attack.
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This isn't an indictment of those businesses, they deserve the right to survive, but it is TERRIBLE for individuals.
We will increasingly be forced to battle addiction in every aspect of our lives.
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For more examples, explanations, and my thoughts on how we can *maybe* fight back, my newest essay is live.
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Evan, we've been thinking about this a lot. Especially about the implications of social media addiction. We explore the solution in open beta. I'd love to show you around. Best, David (love the name of your publication btw)