Human beings are inherently social creatures, relying on interaction and connectivity to thrive. Yet, in the age of social media giants like Facebook and TikTok, it’s worth questioning whether our modern modes of connection truly benefit our mental health and productivity. As we mindlessly scroll through feeds, are we simply fueling the profit margins of multi-billion-dollar corporations? Research shows that increased social media use translates into more data—about our habits, interests, locations, and political views—being harvested and sold to advertisers.