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What similarities exist between slot-machine design and social-media mechanics?

I’ve noticed the same thing, and funnily enough, I came across this article https://nichegamer.com/the-dopamine-economy-casinos-vs-social-media/ that explains how both slot machines and social platforms use variable rewards and sensory cues to keep people coming back. I used to spend a lot of time on apps that refreshed endlessly, and it gave me that same “maybe the next thing will be good” feeling you’re talking about. The colors, the little sounds, the pull-to-refresh gesture — they all sort of echo the way slots keep players on the hook. Once I started recognizing those patterns, I began adjusting my settings so the apps wouldn’t constantly ping me or flash stuff in my face, which actually made a huge difference.