The authors claim that many high-profile business people in the tech world are highly aware of how detrimental their products are to children’s brains and social lives, and often don’t allow their own kids to use them. Haidt and Price think this is “strange” behavior, and promise to reveal the tech wizards’ secrets, which they try to keep hidden from their users.

Social media companies like Meta make apps which are free to download and do not charge membership fees, yet they are worth billions of dollars. This is because they do not make money by creating the apps, but by displaying advertisements to users. Companies pay the social media apps to display their ads. The more attention users give to the ads, the more money the social media “tech wizards” make. The authors argue that this means that users are not really “customers” but more like products which are being sold to advertisers. This system is called “the Attention Economy” (57).

They warn that anything posted on social media, from ads to sponsored content or influencer endorsements, can be money-making schemes for people. Moreover, information posted on social media is often untrue; the companies do not verify information because the point is to sell ad space, not share real news. Many video games which are “free” also include ads. Digital ads can be tailored to your interests based on your browsing habits, making them more persuasive. The authors compare this to spying, since the social media and gaming companies use your information to predict the kinds of ads you might click on. 

They point out that everyone is cautious to not tell strangers personal information, and argue that we should feel the same way about companies’ intrusions into our lives. Privacy is important because it protects you, gives you freedom from feeling supervised or judged, and helps you retain control over your own choices. While social media companies may claim that they want to foster connection and enjoyment, Haidt and Price believe their real goal is to make profit—even when it harms people in the process.

The authors portray tech leaders as hypocrites by pointing to the double standard they have for themselves and their families, and their users. By citing evidence that three major tech leaders do not allow their own kids to use their products, the authors reinforce their argument that these apps are harmful to kids—and that tech companies know it. They write, “One of the founders of a major video game company called Storm8 says he doesn’t let his own kids play the games he’s created. He says, ‘Knowing all the techniques with which we tried to bring about addiction, I realized I didn’t want my children exposed to that risk’” (52). This passage deepens the authors’ portrayal of “tech wizards” as profit-obsessed and predatory. 

By explaining the money-making system behind the “Attention Economy,” the authors draw the readers’ attention to how the major social media apps make money by subjecting their users to advertisements. By reframing social media as a huge advertisement scheme, the authors try to persuade the reader that social media companies do not prioritize relationships or even sharing accurate information, but simply want to entice people into more screen time.

Chapter Lessons

• When you use free apps, you are the product being sold to advertisers
• Companies can use your information to direct you to certain content and ads
• Digital information gathering, algorithms, and ads can compromise your independence and privacy

Reflection Questions

• Did this passage change the way you think and feel about social media and gaming?
• What is the “Attention Economy”? Do you think it is helpful or harmful to children online?
• Can you tell the difference between an ad, sponsored content, influencers, and “real” posts? Why is this important?