Home / Technology / Screen Time Seduction: How Devices Hijacked Our Lives
Screen Time Seduction: How Devices Hijacked Our Lives
31 Jan
Summary
- Persuasive technology systems can suggest, encourage, and reward users.
- Smartphones gamify and monetize human nature for engagement.
- New AI devices may become essential, profoundly changing thoughts.
BJ Fogg's 2003 book, "Persuasive Technology," accurately predicted how portable devices would become integral to daily life, influencing thoughts and actions.
Apple's 2007 iPhone launch exemplified this, with Fogg's work influencing tech entrepreneurs. Now, concerns about screen time are widespread across all age groups.
Academics debate the impact of smartphones, with some linking them to increased anxiety and depression in children, while others find the evidence weak.
The author notes a personal compulsive use, leading to reduced reading and concentration, and a general increase in public anger attributed to phones.
Smartphones manipulate social desires for connection and status, using unpredictable rewards, similar to slot machines, to drive engagement and compulsive use.
Many now recognize this manipulation, with some countries like Australia implementing age restrictions on social media for those under 16.
The author's own social media use has diminished due to platform changes, but concerns remain about emerging technologies like AI.
Large language models and potential future AI companions, like wearable AI buddies, could become deeply integrated into our lives, profoundly changing our thoughts and behaviors.
