Making Sense with Sam Harris #71 — What Is Technology Doing to Us?
19 snips
Apr 14, 2017 
A former Google design ethicist explores how apps compete for our attention, from persuasive design and ad-driven incentives to the strange parallels between technology and cults. The conversation also examines why captivating digital habits can leave us with regret, and how designers might build a more livable online world.
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Stanford Persuasion Lab Origins
- Tristan studied persuasive technology at Stanford and learned habit-forming techniques used by major apps.
- His classmates included founders who later built Instagram and other social platforms that shaped daily behavior.
Attention Economy Is An Arms Race
- The attention economy creates an arms race to capture and retain attention across all apps.
- Winning this race requires exploiting cognitive biases and designing for repeated, extended engagement.
Variable Rewards Drive Compulsion
- Tech products use variable rewards like slot machines to increase engagement and return visits.
- Small UX delays and unpredictable feedback magnify compulsive checking and habit formation.