👉 Addiction computing refers to the design and implementation of digital products and services that exploit psychological vulnerabilities to keep users engaged for extended periods, often at the expense of their well-being. These systems leverage principles from behavioral psychology and neuroscience to create addictive experiences, using features like variable rewards, infinite scrolling, personalized content, and social validation to trigger dopamine release in the brain, reinforcing compulsive use. This computational approach prioritizes profit and user retention over mental health, leading to issues like reduced productivity, sleep disruption, and social isolation, as users become increasingly dependent on the constant stimulation and validation provided by these platforms.
