In the infinite scroll of modern life, you’re not just seeing ads but you’re being studied. Every click, pause and late-night search is a data point feeding a system built to make you buy. This is called algorithmic consumerism and it’s shaping the way we think about money often without us realizing it.
“Algorithmic consumerism is the invisible hand nudging your wallet open while you scroll. It’s the engineered outcome of platforms optimizing for engagement and profit by predicting not only what you’ll want, but when you’re most likely to cave and buy it,” said Anna Korol, CEO of the budgeting app, Asper (formerly Moneta Lend). “It’s powerful because it’s deeply personal and persistently on. Algorithms don’t sleep, and they know what kind of day you’ve had, who you follow, when you’re vulnerable and how to package temptation in a way that feels like your idea.”
Platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube are designed not just to keep us watching, but to prime us for spending. These systems don’t predict what we want but create the feeling that we need it and that we need it now!
The Psychology of the Scroll
It’s no accident that the ad for that trendy water bottle or limited-edition sneaker shows up just when you’re feeling low, tired or bored. Algorithms learn your emotional rhythms.
“There are a few heavy hitters when it comes to behavioral triggers,” said Korol. “Scarcity and urgency like ‘Only 1 left!’ trigger loss aversion. Social proof such as ‘500 people bought this today’ taps into our herd instincts. Add in the dopamine loop of aesthetic unboxings and aspirational influencers, and suddenly, you’re spending on things you didn’t know you needed five minutes ago.”
The danger isn’t in the occasional splurge, it’s in the design. Micro-frictions have been removed, one-click checkouts, saved cards, late-night “treat yourself” nudges are cases in point. We don’t feel the pain of paying anymore. In a world built for impulse, restraint has become a rare skill.
Fighting Fire with Fire
Korol is building a counter-algorithm to push back this problem.
Her app, Asper, uses artificial intelligence to anticipate moments of impulsive spending and interrupts them in real-time with wit, data and a little friction. One standout feature is what the team calls “roast notifications.”
“Let’s say a user is on their fifth delivery order of the week,” said Korol. “The app might jump in with something like, ‘Another $28 delivery? Should we just set up a direct debit to your cravings?’ Then it shows a 30-day trend, compares it to their goals, and prompts a pause like ‘Wanna sleep on it and decide tomorrow?’”
That five-second delay breaks the loop and the user is no longer sleepwalking through spending.
The goal, Korol says, is not to shame people, but to wake them up. “It’s friction with personality,” she added. “And that moment of awareness is the power.”
Anna Korol, CEO of the budgeting app, Asper
Real Change Measured in Dollars and Decisions
So far, the results have been promising. In a 30-day beta test, Asper users reduced impulsive spending by 27%. But for Korol, the most encouraging shift is in how people are talking about their spending.
“People are tagging their own behavior inside the app with labels like ‘emotional spend’ or ‘late-night scroll,’” she said. “That kind of self-awareness is a breakthrough. Once someone sees a pattern, it’s hard to unsee it.”
It’s a stark contrast to the frictionless experience most apps strive for. Asper’s approach is built on conscious interruption paired with budget nudges and merchant-level limits. Soon, even browser extensions that intervene before the checkout page.
“You don’t have to go off-grid to take back control,” Korol said. “You just need your own algorithm in your corner.”
Can Tech Save us from Tech?
It’s a paradox of our time. the same systems that drive overconsumption might also hold the keys to restraint, if used smartly.
“The tech that turned our attention into a marketplace can be repurposed to protect it,” said Korol. “Financial apps shouldn’t just track or report, they should intervene. They should say, ‘Hey, is this really what you want right now?’ And do it with empathy.”
As the digital economy becomes more persuasive, the challenge isn’t to spend less, but to spend with intention. Asper doesn’t promise financial perfection. It offers a smarter buffer between you and the machine that wants your money. And sometimes, that’s enough.
