The real question for me is how do we fix it? Both at the societal level but especially at the personal level for me I’ve been aware of this habit but unable to kick it for years now.
This is how https://linklonk.com works: you upvote content that you found useful and the system gives more priority to users and RSS feeds that posted this content in your future content recommendations. As a result you see content from those who have brought to you useful information in the past - a feedback loop that is better aligned with your needs.
Prior to the 1830s, Britain had exorbitantly high tax rates on advertising, I'm given to understand. (I've found relatively little material on this fact, and forget where I picked up the information.)
Reduce work and living expenses to give people back some time and energy to actually pick up something more complicated than social feeds or digital entertainment.