The Financialization of the Soul: Digital Assets and You, Inc.
Explore how the digital economy treats human lives as financial assets. Learn about the market value of life, digital profiles, and the You, Inc. art project.
Best quote from The Financialization of the Soul: Digital Assets and You, Inc.
We’ve moved into a world that’s increasingly trying to price everything, including the very essence of who we are, turning our identity into a restless financial asset that must perform 24/7.
This audio lesson was created by a BeFreed community member
tension and conflict between the human heart, which seeks stillness and private connection, and the digital profile, which must perform as a restless financial asset in an attention economy
Frequently Asked Questions
The financialization of the soul refers to the modern tension between the human heart and digital profiles. In today's digital economy, personal experiences like likes, shares, and professional updates are treated as fluctuations in a person's market value. This process suggests that we are moving away from being individuals and instead becoming restless financial assets that are constantly being priced by external systems.
You, Inc. is an art project created by Aaron that visualizes the digital economy's view of human life. The project transforms a person's entire existence into a trading interface, where a resume is presented as SEC regulatory filings. It serves as a metaphor for how our personal and professional choices are tracked and categorized as financial data, such as viewing a career change as a strategic restructuring.
The digital economy views personal updates and digital profiles as human assets that function like stocks on a Wall Street terminal. Every interaction on social media or professional platforms contributes to a perceived market value of life. This system treats private moments and career shifts as data points for strategic restructuring, often ignoring the human need for stillness and privacy in favor of constant financial tracking.
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From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
