Response: "The Scientists Who Make Apps Addictive"

The Economist recently published an article in its 2016 October/November edition titled "The Scientists Who Make Apps Addictive", written by Ian Leslie.

The article explores how technology companies are using human behaviour research to manipulate our minds to becoming "addicted" to their apps. Throughout the piece, B.F. Skinner's famous experiment of positive reinforcement (1930) is continuously cited due to its significance in beginning the exploration of behaviourism within psychology.

The ideas presented by Leslie, whilst disturbing, provide heavy insight into the 21st century- a century where people spend more time trying to level up in Candy Crush and reposting cat videos on Facebook rather than actually interacting with the world around them. There is more emphasis nowadays on stimuli found on our iPhones, laptops and iPads, rather than the stimuli around us in the real world. Despite being a fellow millennial who has too often than not been criticized for being "addicted to my phone", I do believe that we should be putting more emphasis on the real world, rather than the fantasies from our phones.

However the ideas brought forward in this article go even further than just saying that we are all technology-addicted robots, it goes further. The article paints a bleak and despairing picture of the modern world, criticizing the joy and passion people have for social media and game applications as being artificial, that our thoughts and beliefs are actually being controlled by these "scientists" to like these things. I am torn on this argument. Although I do agree that technology is consuming our lives, I like to think that us humans are more than just superficial-crazed creatures who are being controlled much like the rats in Skinner's experiment. I like to think that although social media is everywhere we look, we still have power over what we do with it- and that the benefits of social media far outweigh the negative aspects that come with having the power of the entire universe at our fingertips.

As a current IB psychology student, the themes of using behaviourism to control our lives links heavily to our course. B.F. Skinner's experiment and study is extremely important in understanding the reasons behind certain behaviours and choices that people make, and by using Skinner's study as a comparison to a current issue, it makes it even more significant due to its applicability in the 21st century.

Overall, this article leaves me torn. Whilst I do not wholeheartedly believe in the statements made, the underlying ideas conveyed have made me reflect on the choices that I make regarding technology, and whether I really do have total control over my decisions. The next time I stay up late at night, not allowing myself to go to sleep until I complete "just one more level", I am certain that the ideas brought up in this article will be at the back of my head.

To read the full article from The Economist, visit: https://www.1843magazine.com/features/the-scientists-who-make-apps-addictive

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