Why is it so difficult to stop using our phones? Trevor Haynes explains that social media has mastered the art of hijacking our brains to create the sense of being rewarded. In ‘normal’ life, we feel rewarded after positive social interactions thanks to the chemical dopamine. To keep us checking our social media apps, these companies employ various tactics to keep us in a constant stream of validation (and thus, dopamine); for example, Instagram will sometimes withhold “likes” on your photos to deliver them in larger bursts when you check the app later. Read full article here
Societal Issues
To curb drug deaths, communities turn to Reddit, texts and wastewater
With drug overdose deaths on the rise, authorities are attempting to curb the epidemic by tracking and sharing information in real time. In one unique effort, a nonprofit in New York City is using drug-testing equipment and stamping or marking habits of dealers to identify drug batches that may endanger users. Other approaches are also being used, such as monitoring drug-related chatter on Reddit and analyzing local wastewater for opioid and other drug levels. With the combination of these efforts, researchers hope to put a dent in the opioid crisis and reduce overdose deaths. Read full article here
Merv
June 1, 2023
