The sneaky science behind your kid’s tech obsessions


  • TECH
  • Tuesday, 23 Jan 2018

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. 

Limited time offer:
Just RM5 per month.

Monthly Plan

RM13.90/month
RM5/month

Billed as RM5/month for the 1st 6 months then RM13.90 thereafters.

Annual Plan

RM12.33/month

Billed as RM148.00/year

1 month

Free Trial

For new subscribers only


Cancel anytime. No ads. Auto-renewal. Unlimited access to the web and app. Personalised features. Members rewards.
Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!
   

Next In Tech News

This AI-focused chip is powered by light
Study warns users about health information on TikTok
Apple renews talks with OpenAI for iPhone generative AI features, Bloomberg News reports
Google plans $3 billion data center investment in Indiana, Virginia
X tells Brazil court 'operational faults' allowed blocked users to remain active
TikTok general counsel to step down, will focus on fighting US law
Google asks court to throw out US advertising case
Apollo, KKR and Stonepeak to invest in JV to fund Intel's Ireland facility, Bloomberg reports
Televisa to merge its satellite TV, cable units 'as soon as possible'
EU's Vestager meets French tech firm Mistral AI amid competition concerns

Others Also Read