It’s got the dumb memes and shitposts that I love from other social media platforms, but they’re mixed in with thought-provoking posts from newsletters and good discussions. It feels like my favorite blogs have all landed in one place, and I don't have to deal with whatever poor design or usability issues that happen when writers handle the technical side. It’s all the same infrastructure, and that makes it sticky for me as a reader.

Subscribing to newsletters that interest me has led to a tailored feed that does not lend itself to doomscrolling; I will find something intriguing and go off to read for a while. Brain rot averted.

The chat is also a fantastic app feature, depending on how writers/readers are using it. I can connect with folks who have already been vetted to some degree by subscribing to a newsletter that I also find valuable.

Bottom line: the Substack app is largely keeping what’s good about social media and integrating it with a whole new way of consuming media. The app kind of tricks you into better digital habits. It’s easier for me to get the dopamine hits that usually come from social media, and easier to read posts and engage in discussions that actually matter.