WHY YOU'RE ALWAYS ON YOUR PHONE

Brief Summary

Social apps use vivid visuals, timed algorithmic rewards, and infinite scroll to keep people watching, much like sugar keeps people reaching for more.

Key points

• Designed to keep you looking. The conversation links saturated colors, fast reels, and variable rewards to the way technology captures attention and encourages compulsive use.
• The algorithm’s jackpot. The algorithm holds back content it predicts you’ll love, serving up less engaging posts until you’re about to leave—then it hits you with a jackpot.
• The endless buffet. Infinite scroll removes the stopping point, turning the app into an endless stream of content that asks you to keep going.