Okay... we all know our phones are addictive. We joke about our screen time, complain about doomscrolling, delete Instagram just to redownload it three days later...
But do you actually know why it's so hard to put your phone down?
Because after this conversation, I'm officially done blaming myself!!
For this episode, I went to the European Parliament (!!) to sit down with Alexandra Geese and Christel Schaldemose - two Members of the European Parliament who have actually worked on the laws regulating platforms like Instagram, TikTok and X.
And guys... some of the things I learned are WILD.
We talk about how social media literally uses the same psychological principles as slot machines, why you not knowing when your next post will get likes or views is part of what keeps you hooked, and why anger, fear and outrage are the actual business model for Big Tech.
But we also talk about what is actually being done about it.
From new laws protecting young people, to holding tech companies accountable, to what a healthier internet could genuinely look like.
This conversation is here to remind you (and me!) to maybe stop feeling so guilty about our screen time. We're literally fighting against apps designed by some of the smartest people in the world to keep you on them.
🎙️ Topics covered: why social media is so addictive, the slot machine effect, dopamine and unpredictable rewards, doomscrolling, why algorithms reward anger and outrage, Big Tech's business model, the Digital Services Act, social media and young people's mental health, proposed age restrictions in Europe, holding tech companies accountable, and what a healthier future for social media could look like.
Keep up with the pod: @antibrainrot.official
Keep up with me: @tiiiziana.nicola
