"That's not how to use it"

That's the point.

Most tech platforms have been designed with a particular use case in mind. For several, growth happens when users follow that design. Then users become both the product and customers. We post on an image-sharing app, then come back to see who liked it and what they said. In turn, we check for other images we can like. Then, we start getting our news as images. And that cycle of consumption continues.

What if, instead, we steered away from the default when using any platform?

Next time you encounter a new technology or platform, check how it is designed to be used. Decide if that suits your goal.

Go one more step further to determine how you want to use it, so it aligns with your goal. No, not the immediate one, but the long-term goal.

Then, use the platform the way you've decided - after counting the cost of not following the default way.

The more it’s paths away from the default, the better.