Right now I'm working on a short ebook that addresses this question: Why is everybody so stressed and depressed these days ... and what can we do about it? This week I came across an article that got me thinking about something important to add. 

In a lengthy article (I'm providing a short summary below), tech writer Edward Zitron shows how our daily struggles with technology might be part of the problem.

Here's the Background:

1. We can't avoid using digital technology today. We use computers and phones all day, along with countless websites and apps.
2. This digital world is now as much a part of our daily life as our physical surroundings. It's central to how we live.
3. While technology gives us many benefits, it's also causing problems. Our experience using it is getting worse, not better.
4. This might surprise you. We usually think technology keeps improving - things get faster and can do more. But in many ways, using technology has become more frustrating, and often doesn't work as well as it used to -- certainly not as well as it could.
5. Tech companies are making changes that help them make more money, not to make things easier for us. They often make their products more confusing or addictive on purpose.
6. If you find technology frustrating, it's not your fault. It's not because you're too old or not tech-savvy enough. Everyone deals with things that used to work well but now don't, plus endless spam, fake information, scams, and constant changes to the apps we use.  

The article itself is really good. Here's a quick summary:

This piece by Edward Zitron examines what he calls "The Rot Economy" - a system where tech companies and platforms continually degrade user experiences in pursuit of endless growth. He argues that almost every digital interaction we have today is tainted by this rot, from clunky laptops loaded with bloatware to social media platforms that intentionally frustrate users to drive "engagement."

The essay uses a $238 Acer laptop as a case study, describing its horrible user experience: "It took 1 minute and 50 seconds from hitting the power button for the laptop to get to the setup screen" and it's "stuffed full of growth hacked poison." Yet this represents how millions of people experience computing.

Key points:

• The tech industry's incentives no longer align with users' interests
• Companies like Meta, Microsoft, and Google intentionally make their products worse to drive growth
• Most websites -- even of supposedly reputable media outlets such as CNN -- are bloated with tracking software, ads, and misleading enticements that lead unsuspecting users into interactions with fraudulent companies
• The damage isn't accidental but systemic -- it's the result of of platforms and media outlets that are pursuing growth in revenue, with little or no consideration of how this growth is affecting their users

Zitron is particularly scathing about tech leaders, calling Mark Zuckerberg "a putrid ghoul" and describing Sundar Pichai as "the Henry Kissinger of technology." But his real concern is for users who blame themselves when tech doesn't work: "You aren't the failure. The services, the devices, and the executives are."

The essay concludes with a call to action, urging readers to speak up about these issues: "Be the wrench in the machine. Be the person that explains to a friend why Facebook sucks now, and who chose to make it suck." The goal isn't necessarily to fix everything, but to name and shame those responsible for making our digital lives increasingly hostile and manipulative.

Why Does This Matter? 

Because it adds another layer of stress to our daily lives. Most of us face small but constant frustrations with technology throughout our day. Even when things work well, these platforms often trap our attention and keep us from doing things that would make us happier or more productive.

I suggest two ways to handle this:

1. Be kinder to yourself and others when dealing with tech problems.
2. Think carefully about which apps and platforms you use. Ask yourself if the stress is worth the benefits you get.