The Model Health Show TMHS 434: How Social Media Affects Our Psychology & Why Our Phones Are Becoming Irresistible - With Guest Adam Alter
Sep 29, 2020
Adam Alter, an associate professor and bestselling author, delves into the addictive nature of technology and its profound effects on our behavior. He reveals how apps are cleverly designed to hook us, overriding our willpower with features like the Facebook 'like' button, creating a feedback loop similar to gambling. Alter discusses the impact of screen time on real-world relationships and the vulnerability of children to these addictive patterns. He shares practical tips for managing device use and emphasizes the importance of environment in combating addiction.
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Apps Use Psychological 'Hooks'
- App designers use a toolbox of psychological 'hooks' (lures) to make products more engaging over time.
- Adding hooks iteratively creates weaponized products that become increasingly irresistible.
Likes Turn Social Media Into A Reward Machine
- The Facebook like button created rapid feedback loops that turned social media into a gambling-like reward system.
- That feedback made posting a source of intermittent reward and identity valuation.
Negativity Grabs Us Harder
- Humans evolved to be more sensitive to negative information because threats matter more for survival.
- Negative comments or neglect online thus exert outsized emotional impact compared with positive feedback.
