Depop
Depop is a social marketplace for secondhand clothing. The feed blends shopping with social features: seller profiles, likes, follows, and curated aesthetics.
Why this score
The explore feed is algorithmic and visual, resembling Instagram more than a marketplace. Public likes and follower counts are visible.
The social layer adds comparison mechanics on top of shopping. Push notifications cover likes, follows, and price drops.
The breakdown
- Attention Capture5.0
Mechanics designed to keep you in the app right now — infinite scroll, autoplay, variable rewards, and reactive swipe-tap loops.
- Habit Formation4.0
Mechanics designed to bring you back — streak coercion, default push notifications, and re-engagement of dormant users.
- Social Pressure4.0
How much the experience exploits social psychology — public metrics, profile curation, and status comparison against others.
- Time Theft4.0
Mechanics that steal more time than you intended to give — no stopping cues, short units, and 'just one more' loops.
- Cognitive Erosion1.0
Mechanics that replace your independent thinking, memory, or judgment — creating dependency on the tool to function.
- Cognitive Nourishment2.0
Whether the app actively strengthens your ability to think for yourself. Shown on the label, but it does not affect the score.
Recommended usage
Search for specific items rather than browsing explore. The social-shopping combination extends sessions.