How Our Rat Brains Keep Us Addicted To Social Media

Have you ever wondered about the psychology of social media addiction? In this video, I will break down how rats pulling levers to get rewards in BF Skinner's Skinner Box relates to slot machine gambling, which helps explain why we cannot seem to stay off of social media. It all has to do with something called variable ratio reinforcement. Enjoy the video!

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Sources:
Social media copies gambling method 'to create psychological cravings'
The "Vegas Effect" of Our Screens
Why the infinite scroll is so addictive
Schedules of Reinforcement
Why You Can't Stop Checking Your Phone, According to Psychology
The machine always wins: what drives our addiction to social media

[lukasvitek]

This video also made me realize a lot about how the game League of Legends keeps players (including me) hooked despite losing many times in a row. It's likely because I'm always hoping for the win in the next game and hoping I'll get the reward in the end. But even if I win, I'll be too greedy to stop playing because I want to be rewarded again and again. Honestly, it's a downward spiral.

Your video has helped me to realize I also act like a rat in a box. Thank you for your time and efforts you put into these videos. I hope your channel will get the recognition it deserves <3

[Asterics.]

Usually you fear to start doing what you have to do, so surfing mindlessly on social media is kinda a safe and comfy zone for you and at some points you'd think you wasted so much time and it makes your procrastination go worse, you eventually feel not to do anything for the rest of the day because you think it's not worth it and start the work by tomorrow.

This happened to me a lot, especially when I burned out. To avoid this you have to force yourself to do the work gradually, the easiest part first. It's like bursting yourself with cold shower in the morning. And the other hard part is to force yourself to take a break from those dopamine factory. It's terrifying to see how this effect on your brain.

[khwezimvuyana]

I'm happy I broke free from social media addiction it was hard but I'm free now I get to spend my time wisely I'm not influenced by anything that's happening on social media I get to decide where my time and attention goes to and it goes to things that build me.

[umbra]

super well done, entertaining and really educational i love this type of channels

[AKfit]

Great video man. Too relatable. Keep makin em

[Verårtu]

Variable Ratio Reinforcement...

Just like real life, or any endeavours... Art, singing, photography (these are my hobbies) and sometimes exercising; all these don't reward all the time it doesn't go ↗️↗️↗️, instead ↗️↘️↗️➡️ that's just life huh, addictive...AWESOME

[pinkinwarri]

I did and can you do something on the Samsung Galaxy AI . The robots will take everything man has got to offer soon . This is scary

[bonio]

5:12 YouTube sent me a notification at this moment 😭

[mthunderbird]

Your slot machine analogy is more relevant to Adam Diamondbolt and George Dagga Button Smashers because George does the pokies.

[CallMeZack]

I know this is a generalization but like, what happen to those people (like me) who feel like giving up the first time we don't get a reward? I know there is a chance but what's the point of trying to get that reward if I'm not 100% that I'll get it? It feels like it is no worth trying so I rather give up or find something that guarantees me a reward

[arturhiroyuki]

your vids are too god man, keep it up

[MahmoudAbdelrazek]

could you please tell me, why the variable ratio reinforcement is so addictive? I mean what is the psychology behind it? why we get addicted to it, when we don't know when we are getting rewarded? im searching so much but i can not find the answer