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That's the point: if you get bored by a book, you stop reading the book, if you get bored by infinite scrollable content, you keep scrolling looking for less bo

That's the point: if you get bored by a book, you stop reading the book, if you get bored by infinite scrollable content, you keep scrolling looking for less boring content, that never shows up. It's the same effect that gambling has on the brain. You keep playing, even though you keep losing. That's the danger and that's why books, the TV, movies, radios (music in general) and other form of entertainment are not equally dangerous, because usually you are able to stop before it gets too far.

Terr_ 9y ago
I disagree about categorizing TV as "the safer half" of the comparison, in the same section as books or movies. If anything, TV is an earlier iteration of the same stuff. Flipping through the circular loop of cable TV channels predates scrolling and refreshing webpages, but people exhibited the same addictive novelty-seeking. It was so common it became a cliche to say things like "N channels and nothing [good] on." In addition, they share same emphasis on advertisements as a funding stream, whereas movies and books are typically paid for up-front.
- walterstucco 9y ago
  > Flipping through the circular loop of cable TV channels predates scrolling And looping through radio channels was popular as well There were just not enough channels back then The addiction mechanism is known, it's the way it is exploited that is new You didn't bring your TV on the way to work or at school, when driving, on holiday or waiting for your baby's birth. > In addition, they share same emphasis on advertisements as a funding stream, Radio used the same funding stream and still does Newspapers and magazine do that as well None of them tried to trick you into checking again and again, other than putting a pair of boobs on the cover Having said that: that's why advertising on TV has been regulated many times to protect kids We're not doing the same for social networks Either we force social networks to act good, or we block kids from using them
- walterstucco 9y ago
  I think I may need to explain: TV is passive, you either watch it or not The engagement in social networks comes from being actively participating "Your opinion matters" they say No, they don't But the fact that you can argue with someone on the internet believing someone is finally listening to all the important things you have to say, keeps you there refreshing over and over it's "someone is wrong on the internet" [1] And it's highly addictive, especially for those people who feel powerless [1] https://xkcd.com/386/ https://xkcd.com/386/

Terr_ 9y ago

I disagree about categorizing TV as "the safer half" of the comparison, in the same section as books or movies. If anything, TV is an earlier iteration of the same stuff. Flipping through the circular loop of cable TV channels predates scrolling and refreshing webpages, but people exhibited the same addictive novelty-seeking. It was so common it became a cliche to say things like "N channels and nothing [good] on." In addition, they share same emphasis on advertisements as a funding stream, whereas movies and books are typically paid for up-front.

walterstucco 9y ago
> Flipping through the circular loop of cable TV channels predates scrolling And looping through radio channels was popular as well There were just not enough channels back then The addiction mechanism is known, it's the way it is exploited that is new You didn't bring your TV on the way to work or at school, when driving, on holiday or waiting for your baby's birth. > In addition, they share same emphasis on advertisements as a funding stream, Radio used the same funding stream and still does Newspapers and magazine do that as well None of them tried to trick you into checking again and again, other than putting a pair of boobs on the cover Having said that: that's why advertising on TV has been regulated many times to protect kids We're not doing the same for social networks Either we force social networks to act good, or we block kids from using them
walterstucco 9y ago
I think I may need to explain: TV is passive, you either watch it or not The engagement in social networks comes from being actively participating "Your opinion matters" they say No, they don't But the fact that you can argue with someone on the internet believing someone is finally listening to all the important things you have to say, keeps you there refreshing over and over it's "someone is wrong on the internet" [1] And it's highly addictive, especially for those people who feel powerless [1] https://xkcd.com/386/ https://xkcd.com/386/