In a world where attention is currency, social media platforms have become some of the wealthiest entities on the planet. Not because they provide value, but because they’ve mastered the art of manipulating human behavior. The apps we open “just for five minutes” are built on business models that thrive on distraction and brainrot.

This isn’t just a hot take. It’s the unfortunate reality of the modern attention economy.

The Architecture of Addiction

Social media apps aren’t neutral platforms. They are deliberately engineered to exploit cognitive vulnerabilities.

Infinite scrolling, personalized algorithms, push notifications, and variable reward loops are not design accidents — they’re carefully studied psychological hooks.

These apps learn what you pause on, what you scroll past, when you’re most likely to feel bored, lonely, or insecure. And they respond by serving you content that’s just sticky enough to keep you scrolling.

It’s not connection. It’s behavioral conditioning.

You're Not the Customer. You're the Product.

Social media platforms are “free” because you’re not their customer. Advertisers are.

When you spend more time on a platform, you generate more data. More data leads to more targeted ads. More targeted ads mean more revenue.

Your attention has been monetized. Every second you spend on these platforms is generating value — but not for you.

In this model, your focus is the fuel, and these platforms are very, very hungry.

The Consequences We Don’t Talk About

We often joke about doomscrolling, FOMO, or wasting an entire Sunday on TikTok, but the implications run deeper:

• Reduced attention span

• Increased anxiety, especially in younger users

• Distorted self-perception through comparison culture

• Chronic procrastination and digital fatigue

We now live in a world where being distracted is the default. And most of us don’t even realize we’re in a system designed to keep it that way.

So... Are Social Media Apps Evil?

If evil means knowingly harming people for profit — then yes, the Attention Cartel qualifies.
Not because they started with malice, but because their survival depends on keeping you addicted, even if it erodes your mental health and potential.

And the worst part?
It’s working.

Why We Built Monk

Monk isn’t just another productivity app. It’s a weapon against the Attention Cartel.

A clean, frictionless tool that helps you block distractions, reclaim your time, and actually think again.
Because tech should serve your goals — not sabotage them.

Your attention is your freedom.
Take it back.