The only absurd thing here is you linking chess to billion dollar US corporation social media dark patterns.

Chess is healthy you get to go outside and meet people to play with, engage in your local club. Some online platforms make the thing addictive.

most people play online tho

I'm not sure about that and if it is so, it's very recent. Playing online isn't bad and addictive per say I would argue though. My comment was more in response to someone who seemed to associate chess to the main online platform which to me, is using addictive patterns to some level.