> Looking at the metrics Apple tracks in the App Store, it seems to me that "engagement" is all that really matters. This has been the name of the game in ad t

> Looking at the metrics Apple tracks in the App Store, it seems to me that "engagement" is all that really matters. This has been the name of the game in ad tech like fb, Google and social media in general. I think two worlds are clashing with each other, where consumer tech is somewhat aware of the problems around mindless scrolling and addiction, but the growth & engagement mindset of the 2010s is cemented in the culture. Apple has little reason to follow this model because they primarily make money from selling hardware. Having a software platform that protects the user from this crap is a competitive advantage against Google, who depends on ad-based revenue. Apple seems to have an identity crisis, fearing they lose out on sweet subscription fees and ad revenue, now that most apps are free. This in turn is creating conflicts of interest, where they end up fighting their own customers. If regulators would bark and bite harder around anti-competitive behavior, it might actually force corporations to focus on what they're good at instead of everyone building their own mediocre walled gardens that grow like a cancer and eats the company from within. At least, that's my wishful thinking..