"Addictive Loop: How Social Media and Video Games Manipulate Our Minds A growing body of research is uncovering the dark secrets behind our seemingly endless hours spent on social media and video games. A combination of four key features - variable rewards, social interaction, personalized feedback, and escapism - can create a hypnotic effect, rendering us oblivious to the passage of time. This phenomenon, often referred to as 'intrinsic motivation,' is particularly concerning when it comes to children, whose developing brains are more susceptible to the allure of these digital indulgences. As parents and policymakers grapple with the consequences of excessive screen time, experts are sounding the alarm on the insidious ways in which tech giants are designing our digital experiences to keep us hooked."
Taken together, these four features can create a trancelike state that can keep us stuck on social media apps or video games for hours. Children are particularly vulnerable.
