> The fact that phone use triggers dopamine releases in the brain is sometimes used as an argument that tech companies are hijacking our brains. Screens are oft

> The fact that phone use triggers dopamine releases in the brain is sometimes used as an argument that tech companies are hijacking our brains. Screens are often compared with hard drugs, and are frequently called “addictive.” The thing is, everything that makes you feel good involves dopamine. Receiving a text from your grandmother or ticking off an item on your to-do list also triggers a release of dopamine, so does having a tasty meal. Dopamine is not cocaine in the brain. Its release is perfectly healthy and natural. A bit OT, but I'm frequently annoyed when "dopamine" itself is frequently portraied as a bad thing and only mentioned in connection with drugs or addiction - when on its own, it's really just part of the mechanism how positive feelings are "physically implemented" - no matter if those positive feelings come from having completed your phd or having a drug high. I wonder if that connects with some general unwillingness to see ourselves as biological beings unless illness or unwanted behaviour is involved. Might be interesting to make a "dihydrogen monoxide" style hoax which calls for a total ban on dopamine, post it on Facebook and see how many people would support it...