Digital Tools Undervalued

Shaan Puri reflects on how people, including himself, often undervalue digital tools compared to physical services, despite their lasting utility and impact. He uses the example of app pricing to illustrate this cognitive disconnect.

• Digital Value Perception:

  • People hesitate to pay $3-5 for apps that provide long-term value
  • Same people readily pay more for temporary services like parking
  • This reveals an irrational threshold for digital purchases

• Phone as a "Magic Wand":

  • Views apps as "spells" that enable powerful capabilities
  • Can summon food delivery
  • Connect with distant family via video
  • Call transportation

• App Categories Impact:

  • Distraction Apps:
    • Instagram, TikTok
    • Pull you away from real world
  • Productivity Apps:
    • Email, Slack, Twitter
    • Can be distracting despite purpose
  • Centering Apps:
    • Help ground and center you
    • Provide actual life improvement
    • Fill a gap in most people's phone usage

• Value Proposition:

  • Apps are permanent tools that can be used indefinitely
  • Created through significant development effort
  • Often provide transformative capabilities
  • Should be valued more highly given their utility

This perspective challenges the common reluctance to pay for digital tools, suggesting we should reconsider how we value these lasting, impactful resources.