I learned too much about myself from all the year-end 'wrapped' recaps

"Spotify Wrapped could already feel humiliating. This year, there are more opportunities than ever to flip over the stone that is your phone habits and see what crawls out. Last year, my top artist was Florence + The Machine. I stand by it; 'What Kind of Man' is one of the best songs ever written. But why was I craving Florence Welch's scream about heartbreak and lust so desperately? What did that say about me? The shame began."

"LinkedIn made me feel like a try-hard Thanks, LinkedIn, for letting me know that I have 'true daytime energy' (as in: I use the app between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m.). 2025 has been my year of becoming a LinkedInfluencer. Some of it is to develop connections and find new stories; some of it is to promote my work. Speaking of which: Follow me on LinkedIn! Knowing how much I used the platform, though, was overwhelming. I didn't need to know that I was in the top 5% of LinkedIn users."

Year-end recaps from platforms including Spotify, LinkedIn, YouTube, Dunkin', Uber, Snapchat, and others have proliferated. These recaps reveal detailed usage metrics, top artists, genres, activity windows, profile views, and percentile rankings. The disclosures can provoke embarrassment, self-questioning, and a sense of being observed rather than amused. Examples include Spotify Wrapped prompting reflection on musical cravings, LinkedIn labeling users with titles and percentile usage, and viral moments like an Uber Eats parody becoming a real product. Scrolling through multiple recaps can feel invasive and overwhelming as aggregated personal data exposes habits and prompts unintended emotional reactions.

Read at Business Insider