The sneaky science behind your kid’s tech obsessions

The ingredients in social media and technology are engineered to keep you coming back. (Dreamstime)

Son won't turn off his videogame? Daughter obsessed with "likes" on Instagram? It may not be entirely their fault. 

Like the high-octane sugar in a pint of Ben & Jerry's and that irresistible chemical spice in Flamin' Hot Cheetos, the ingredients in social media, videogames, apps, and other digital products are carefully engineered to keep you coming back for more. While researchers are still trying to discover whether kids (and parents) can be addicted to technology, some computer scientists are revealing their secrets for keeping us hooked.