I watched a doco last night about the addictiveness of social media and how they program addictiveness into it by playing to certain neurological triggers in people brains. A guy who used to work for FB (the guy who invented the endless scroll feature) says they not only capture your information but also analyse every single tap on your screen then tailor what you see on the screen, right down to the colours, to keep you tapping.

I can't recall the name they gave the algorithm but it was named after the scientist who researched it in the 1950's. They refined it and now apply it to social media, phone and computer games etc. Something about random rewards releasing dopamine in the brain which keeps the subject (human) tapping on the screen. Think, those people playing slot machines in Las Vegas.

The colours, sounds and shapes on the phone are all products of this process and keeps people tapping.

He also said he keeps his phone in black and white to limit its impact on him, and limits his kids from contact with smart phones and devices...Like "most of the executives" he worked with there.

Hmm...

Oh, he also says he regrets inventing the endless scroll feature. He looked genuine..

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