Smartphones have become very handy devices for playing online slots. But should phones actually be labeled pocket slot machines when they’re not being used for gambling?
A new Google-funded study makes this distinction when discussing the addictive nature of smartphone apps. Two Google researchers found that popular apps feature a “trigger, action, reward” design like slot machines.
This design creates a “phantom” feeling where smartphone owners feel like they receive messages even when they haven’t.
More on the Google Study
Google conducted research with 19 participants aged 18-65 in California and Zurich, Switzerland. The tech giant, which owns Google, wanted to see why people are so addicted to phones and if there’s a way to reduce this reliance.
They discovered that some participants repeatedly refreshed an app in hopes that new content would appear. They also posted on social media just in hopes of getting more likes, shares, and comments.
Each participant called their phone “critical,” making it difficult to disconnect. One person even went so far as to refer to smartphones as “pocket slot machines.”
The research also dove into a phenomenon known as the “infinite scroll,” where one continues scrolling a social media page without ever reaching the bottom.
“Some app or website experiences have engineered automatic triggers (for example, infinite scroll, recommended content), which maintain user engagement,” states the researchers.
“For both of these scenarios, users found themselves connected to their phones increasingly over time, more than they wished to.”
Where Does the Slots Aspect Come Into Play?
Is it really fair to refer to smartphones as pocket slot machines?
Maybe so when considering that both can be addicting to some people. This isn’t to say that slots and smartphones carry the same downsides, though.
Slot machine addiction is bad from the perspective that it can cost one financially. In contrast, smartphone addiction is a time drain that can lead to sloughing off responsibilities.
Whatever the case may be, it’s important to be aware of each problem and do your best to avoid these addictions.