The Binge Breaker

1) The questions that the text addresses are mostly implicit. This texts really gets you to ask yourself how much control technology, especially smartphones, have over our daily lives. Many times throughout the article I thought about how many times a day I used my phone to check social media.

2) I think the intended reader is for people who work at Google, Facebook, Snapchat, etc. because it talks about how the changes they are making are affecting are daily lives. This article is also for anyone who is interested in how people like Harris are working to keep people off their phones with apps that let you know how long you spend on Facebook or Snapchat.

3) First, the author thesis of this article is that 'Triston Harris thinks that Silicon Valley is addicting us to our phones. He’s determined to make it stop'. The author supports his thesis by giving many, many examples of how changing technology is starting to take control of our lives. One example was the Snapchat Streak. This was a good example because it causes people to be on their phones constantly throughout the day so that they don't lose their streak. I do find this convincing because I find myself giving my phone to much attention during the day.

4) The author hook's the reader with the title, 'Addicted to Your Phone'? because immediately you want to read the article to find out if you are addicted to your phone. The reader is also hooked by wondering how Tristan Harris plans to stop this addiction.

5) The author makes himself seem credible by being a published author for The Atlantic magazine.

6)The writers basic values, beliefs, and assumptions are similar to mine. He said, "I’m usually quick to be annoyed by friends reaching for their phones, but next to Harris, I feel like an addict." If I'm hanging out with friends I don't want them to be on their phones the whole time, but next to someone like Harris I would feel like an addict to.

7) I respond to this text by realizing that I am more connected than I thought. I have an iPhone and an Apple Watch. I can get notification instantly without even picking up my phone. I do feel like alway being connected to our devices is not healthy and being unplugged is a good thing but I don't think being connect sometimes is a bad thing.

8) The author purpose for writing this article is for people to become aware of Harris and is efforts to help people become less connected. My purpose for reading was to find out why harris thought that Silicone Valley was addicting us to our phones and how he planned to make it stop.