Hacker Newsnew | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submitlogin
Social media apps are 'deliberately' addictive to users (bbc.com)
15 points by mikece on July 4, 2018 | hide | past | favorite | 6 comments


How is infinite scrolling not just a logical evolution of regular scrolling? and using red for notification indicators isn't just a design convention that was borrowed from the real world?

All these outlets reporting on social media/app/smartphone addictions should really consider mentioning that these theories aren't supported by research but mainly the melodramatic testimonies of former employees with messianic complex.


I am having a hard time finding the purpose of this article.

> Social media companies are deliberately addicting users to their products for financial gain, Silicon Valley insiders have told the BBC's Panorama programme.

Wasn't this obvious years ago when social networks started?

I believe everyone (except infants) is well aware of this.


just like sugar.


Lots of things really. Everything nowadays is tweaked to get people coming back, its an eventuality when all of the companies goals are to increase profits.


Water is even more addictive, just look at the withdrawal symptoms. And don't even start me on oxygen.


actually all technology is, in a way, deliberately addictive because it is designed to make people money and not explicitly designed to create greater well being. The story they use to sell it is that it is to improve your life but nowadays its almost impossible to actually reject this concept. People once lived happily without tech, but now it seems most people 'would die' without it.




Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: