Screen Addiction

Today in class we listened to the interview on The Gist. The interview was with Adam Alter and Mike Pesca. The interview is about how much time is spent on our screens and the negative and positive effects of spending so much time connected to them. I think the interview is right in that some people are really addicted to “screen time” and that it need to be treated as serious of the opioid problem. I also think that some screen time can be positive like when it also involves a social aspect. Screen time has a social aspect like when video games have a headset and create teams and talk to others. The problem with screen time is when it cuts into sleep time or when you become unable to walk away without having so sort of anxiety feelings. Feeling like you always have to connected can have many negative impacts on your life.

Another interesting topic they discussed in the interview is the idea that companies are making products these days so that you do get addicted and do not want to stop using them. One example was with Netflix. Netflix automatically starts the next episode after the one you were watching finishes, this is called auto-play. This feature makes it easier to continue to watch the show instead of getting up and doing something else. Another thought was that companies reward us when we continually use their product. Snapchat for example uses streaks to make people get on the app every day, because if you do not use it for one day you will lose your steaks with all your friends. (A streak is when you and some else snapchat every day for a consecutive number of days. You are actually rewarded with nothing other than adding to the number of days count. I have never that of it like being rewarded with something but that actually makes a lot of sense.

One thing I particularly did not like about the interview was when the idea that legislation needs to intervene. I do not think that is necessary. I think other things could be tried before they intervene such as support groups for people who are addicted or more information presented about what addiction to a screen really means and the consequences of it.