At its core, this shift isn’t about literature — it’s about looking like a reader. Books have become an accessory, a personality trait and a status symbol. As a result, people are reading more visibly than ever. The joy of getting lost in a story, of struggling with complex ideas and of truly reading seems to be fading.

There is an innate desire to romanticize the mundane and to dwell in the sounds, scenes and words of thoughtful people. As senseless as it may seem to mull over thinking, creators like Mecey show just how comforting hearing one’s thoughts can be. This art of expression appeared to be lost on the app.