Digital Overload

The Hook Model and Internet Addiction

The podcast explores how our constant internet use can be both fine and problematic. It introduces the Hook Model, which explains how technology companies build habit-forming products. The Hook Model consists of triggers, actions, rewards, and investments. Triggers are external notifications that prompt users to open an app or website. The action is the simplest behavior taken in anticipation of a reward, such as scrolling a news feed on Facebook. The reward phase provides variable content, creating uncertainty and keeping users engaged. Finally, the investment phase involves users putting data and content into the platform to improve it. While habit-forming technologies can be used for good, excessive internet use can become addictive.