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The SF product designers have the power to influence billions, but there are no consequences. So long as there are no consequences, we'll keep asking questions
by nonbirithm 5y ago
The SF product designers have the power to influence billions, but there are no consequences. So long as there are no consequences, we'll keep asking questions and merely propising these hypothetical limiters to prevent the world from being distracted.
I have a feeling that the mechanisms of addiction are tied to evolved human instinct, and we will have to essentially fight back against our own genes to have any chance at succeeding. I like to view the author's suggestions as that being a part of that fight.
The fact that we were directly responsible for wiping out tens of thousands of species of life while remaining unaware of the destruction we wrought thousands of years ago should indicate that some kind of a limiter against instinctual human reward mechanisms is needed, technological or otherwise. We are going to eat ourselves.
- fmajid 5y agoThey don't have any power in this area. Those big companies hire industrial psychologists and neuroscientists to calculate precisely how often notifications should be issued to give you that little squirt of dopamine and be hooked. The notifications are not an accident, they are by design.
- nonbirithm 5y agoExactly. When we become aware of our instincts and know to take advantage of them, in addition to baseline human ability, it's even worse.