Deep Questions with Cal Newport Ep. 365: What Technology Wants (and How to Push Back)
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Aug 11, 2025 Explore the intriguing clash between additive technologies that enhance connection and extractive ones that exploit users. Discover how platforms like Facebook shifted from genuine interaction to profit-driven motives. Learn strategies to reclaim control over your digital life and maintain a balance between work and personal passions. Delve into the distinct challenges faced by doctoral students versus medical residents, and enjoy a lighthearted discussion on hiring practices and skincare tips. Don't miss the diverse book recommendations that enrich the mind!
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Additive Vs Extractive Technologies
- Some technologies purely add value, like an old landline that makes talking easier.
- Others are extractive, designed to capture attention and monetize your time and data.
When Useful Products Chase Attention
- Facebook began as a useful connection tool but gradually optimized for time on platform instead of user value.
- That engagement-first shift prioritized attention capture over the original social utility.
Users As The Creative Labor Force
- Platforms turn users into unpaid creative labor whose posts generate the engagement companies monetize.
- That structural role lets firms extract increasing value as they scale and consolidate power.
