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I agree, I heard the same thing about comic books and D&D. Except the problem these days is that algorithms are preying on human weaknesses and taking advantag

I agree, I heard the same thing about comic books and D&D. Except the problem these days is that algorithms are preying on human weaknesses and taking advantage of addictive characteristics. Things like video games and youtube videos are purposefully making themselves so addictive that it's different from before. I'm not one to say "this time it's different" but this time it really is.

cvhashim 7y ago
I don't think comic book companies had teams of PhDs using all sorts of techniques to extract every bit of attention from people and kids, just to increase engagement metrics even slightly.
- sandworm101 7y ago
  Harry Potter. There are all sorts of similar tricks in there. They might not be in there deliberately, but the most popular books (aka "beach books") contain the same trickery. In literature, such tricks can include a short episodic narrative that negates any need for long-term retention of information (short chapters). Reward centers of the brain are triggered by predictable plots. The reader feels smart when they are able to predict what it coming. Banal subject matter also helps get the product into the hands of kids (a book about a wizard school, or a game about farming rather than a casino). Then you wrap a community around the product. You give people the opportunity to advertise their participation and success with the product. You sell the knickknacks to display to their friends. Then you ensure the product has no end. You spread everything out over years so that, no matter how much they pay today, there will always be another purchase to make in the future. Star Trek has been described as addictive, I think that can be extended to Harry Potter. I'd bet good money that Disney has people working to keep Star Wars as addictive as possible.
  - fastball 7y ago
    So let your kids enjoy things, but don't let them become a stan.
  - noodlesUK 7y ago
    This is probably true to some extent, but the kind of real time retargeting, A/B testing etc is miles beyond most adults ability to fight. If I have kids I don’t know what I’ll do, but I expect leading them in the direction of a healthy relationship with technology will be a challenge.
novok 7y ago
I remember many such things said about TV also. Many of the complaints sound similar in my head. Including things like 'using psychologists to make more addictive TV', or 'subliminal messaging in advertising' will hypnotise you buy shit. Basically apply the best practices that you had 25 years ago for TV (not too much, make sure it's not too much for their age, etc) and you'll probably be fine too.
- fastball 7y ago
  Books are much more varied and information dense than TV. Why watch TV when you can read a book?

cvhashim 7y ago

I don't think comic book companies had teams of PhDs using all sorts of techniques to extract every bit of attention from people and kids, just to increase engagement metrics even slightly.

sandworm101 7y ago
Harry Potter. There are all sorts of similar tricks in there. They might not be in there deliberately, but the most popular books (aka "beach books") contain the same trickery. In literature, such tricks can include a short episodic narrative that negates any need for long-term retention of information (short chapters). Reward centers of the brain are triggered by predictable plots. The reader feels smart when they are able to predict what it coming. Banal subject matter also helps get the product into the hands of kids (a book about a wizard school, or a game about farming rather than a casino). Then you wrap a community around the product. You give people the opportunity to advertise their participation and success with the product. You sell the knickknacks to display to their friends. Then you ensure the product has no end. You spread everything out over years so that, no matter how much they pay today, there will always be another purchase to make in the future. Star Trek has been described as addictive, I think that can be extended to Harry Potter. I'd bet good money that Disney has people working to keep Star Wars as addictive as possible.
- fastball 7y ago
  So let your kids enjoy things, but don't let them become a stan.
- noodlesUK 7y ago
  This is probably true to some extent, but the kind of real time retargeting, A/B testing etc is miles beyond most adults ability to fight. If I have kids I don’t know what I’ll do, but I expect leading them in the direction of a healthy relationship with technology will be a challenge.

novok 7y ago

I remember many such things said about TV also. Many of the complaints sound similar in my head. Including things like 'using psychologists to make more addictive TV', or 'subliminal messaging in advertising' will hypnotise you buy shit. Basically apply the best practices that you had 25 years ago for TV (not too much, make sure it's not too much for their age, etc) and you'll probably be fine too.

fastball 7y ago
Books are much more varied and information dense than TV. Why watch TV when you can read a book?