Why We Can't Put Our Phones Down, and What to Do About It

"There are a plethora of reasons why our phones are so compelling. It is not just that our phones are designed to be that way, or that apps amp up (and even supersede) the effect. Technology has enabled testing, updates, and rollouts in an unprecedented fashion. A few companies, like Netflix, engage in a degree of openness about (some of) their testing, while most are secretive."

"What we can ascertain is that testing is commonplace, and tweaks to both software and hardware are relentless. The content is designed to appear never-ending too, with persistent novelty and the appearance of infinity with carousel interfaces. In terms of hardware, smartphones are designed to be incredibly accessible and easy to carry, making their integration into our lives seamless in a way that smart glass designers are trying to crack and have not yet done so."

Smartphones are engineered and iteratively optimized to capture attention through relentless software and hardware tweaks. Continuous testing, frequent updates, and secretive rollouts enable companies to refine attention-grabbing features. App designs provide persistent novelty and an appearance of infinity through carousel interfaces, and hardware portability makes phones seamlessly integrated into daily life. Social-media-related mental health impacts rose around 2012 as mobile access grew. Relying solely on self-control to moderate phone use often fails. Psychologists recommend approaches that reduce dependence on momentary willpower by changing environments or using structural interventions.

Read at Psychology Today