How technology is hacking our brains

The principle of slot machines

Every time we check our phone, we are like pulling the lever of a slot machine in the hope of getting a reward. And once we get it, we want to experience this sensation again - this is how a habit is formed. Many modern technologies are based on a similar principle.

“Everyone is used to thinking that technology itself is harmless. And how to use them depends only on us. But that's a misconception, says Tristan Harris, a former product manager at Google. “They are not harmless at all. Their creators want us to use them in a certain way and for a long time. Because that's how they make money."

Companies are constantly improving their products, trying in any way to attract our attention. Unfortunately, the consequences for users are often negative: we are more and more dependent on technology.

The connection between technology and dopamine

“Now programmers who know how the brain works can write programs that make the brain perform certain actions,” says Ramsey Brown, founder of Dopamine Labs, which creates applications that provoke neuroreactions.

For example, such applications determine the best moment to give the user rewards that are of no value in themselves, but make the brain want to repeat.

Gamification

Corporations and content creators always strive to make their products as engaging as possible. To do this, they often resort to gamification, that is, they use techniques from video games, for example, rivalry with other users. It also helps to strengthen the addiction.

Gamification and emotional engagement expert Gabe Sickermann believes there is no point in waiting for companies to launch products that will not add addiction to users.

He thinks this is not so bad, because the same techniques that are addictive help users to reinforce new habits through technology, such as playing sports.

“Asking technology makers to get worse is just plain stupid,” says Sickermann. - It is unlikely that it will ever happen. Moreover, it contradicts capitalist thinking and the system in which we live."