They keep people occupied and take away their time. How ethical is that?
Many apps and websites claim to help people make money online. Some may be legitimate, while others can be misleading or fraudulent. They keep people engaged, make them spend their time and effort, and ultimately profit from their activities.
The same issue can be seen on social media platforms such as YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. Their business models are largely built around people’s time, attention, interaction, and content.
When a system turns people’s time and attention into economic value, an important question arises: Is the value provided in return truly fair?
People are constantly exposed to promises such as “You can make money,” “Earn extra income,” or “Make money by watching videos and using this app.” These promises naturally attract people who want to improve their financial situation or make better use of their free time.
But what do people actually receive in return for the time they spend?
A person may spend hours, days, or even months completing tasks, watching advertisements, creating content, interacting with others, and remaining active on a platform. Meanwhile, the platform can generate revenue from that activity.
The user’s time and attention become economic value.
But is the user receiving a fair share of that value?
⏳ TIME IS A FORM OF CAPITAL
Time is different from money. Money can be lost and earned again, but time cannot be recovered.
That is why I believe companies and platforms that use people’s time and attention as an economic resource should provide meaningful value in return.
The real question is not only whether a system is legal. It is also whether it is fair:
Are you genuinely providing value to people, or are you simply using their time and attention to generate profit?
📱 SOCIAL MEDIA AND THE VALUE OF ATTENTION
People create content, watch advertisements, comment, share, like, follow, and interact. Every one of these activities contributes to the platform’s ecosystem.
Without users, there is no content. Without content, there is less engagement. Without engagement, there is less advertising value.
This is why people’s time and attention are among the most valuable resources of digital platforms.
The question is simple:
How much of the economic value created by users is actually returned to them?
⚖️ THE ETHICAL QUESTION
I am not claiming that every app, website, or social media platform is legally fraudulent. There is an important difference between something being legally fraudulent and something being ethically questionable.
My criticism is directed at systems that may exploit people’s time, attention, effort, or expectations for economic gain while providing little meaningful value in return.
To me, a person’s time is a form of capital. Money can potentially be earned again, but time cannot.