In our digital age, social media is a huge part of daily life, but not all time spent online is productive or enjoyable. Enter the concept of 'Regrettable Minutes' – the time users spend on social platforms that they later wish they hadn’t. Understanding this can help us see how we truly interact with online content.

Social media is a double-edged sword. It can be fun and informative, but it can also become a time sink, leaving us feeling unfulfilled or stressed. Regrettable Minutes are those moments we wish we could reclaim, the hours spent mindlessly scrolling or engaging in pointless debates.

The fear of missing out (FOMO) drives us to keep scrolling, even when we know it’s not adding value to our lives. Many platforms use dark patterns – manipulative design strategies – to keep us hooked. These tactics boost engagement but often lead to time we regret spending.

This creates a dilemma for startups like Quasi. User engagement is crucial for growth and funding, but increasing stickiness often means more Regrettable Minutes. The challenge is to keep users engaged without leading to regret.

At Quasi, we’re developing a new app, Fiction, to break this cycle. Fiction aims to offer a satisfying content experience, ensuring every minute spent is enjoyable and meaningful. We promote conscious consumption, encouraging users to enjoy AI-generated stories and leave the platform guilt-free if the content doesn’t satisfy them.

Reducing Regrettable Minutes to zero is a tough goal, but it's one we’re committed to. Balancing engaging content with reducing regret is a challenge, but it’s key to our mission.

The idea of Regrettable Minutes isn’t just a tool for personal reflection; it’s a business challenge for social media startups. Fiction aims to deliver great personalized content while minimizing Regrettable Minutes. If we succeed, we can create a digital world where social media is not just a habit but a rewarding experience free from regret.