HOW WE LOST THE FLOW

Summary from the TLDR Founders newsletter

This reflection compares the powerful, organic “flow state”—often achieved through live music, sports, or deep creativity—to the formulaic loops engineered by social media and online gambling platforms. Where spontaneous flow can foster genuine liberation and skill development, digital “dopamine slot machines” hijack attention purely for profit. The argument is that tasks like singing and dancing could nurture flow just as easily as endless feeds, yet today's Appistocracy is monetizing what once was playful immersion. By choosing real-life pursuits over hyper-addictive digital tools, we stand a better chance of sustaining the deep, purposeful engagement that helps us grow.