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feel. We now experience the Internet not simply as a source of information, but as having lifelike qualities, and the line between simplistic Internet algorithms and AI is fast eroding. I frequently laugh to myself as I enter discourse with Alexa on my Amazon Echo. I know full well that she is just a machine-learning interface, but she feels real and is thus imbued with the dynamism of humanity.

      

Most of us would be hard-pressed to admit that we love being online, but the fact is that many of us do. Some of us may find ourselves becoming addicted to a point that our lives are impacted, while others of us may overuse at times. As I mention in earlier chapters, much of this is not conscious. We are virtually swept away in a tidal wave of intensity, stimulation, interactivity, and endless intermittent reward. The problem with tidal waves, however, is that they can hurt us, and our excessive Internet use can subtly rob us of many aspects of quality living. In more extreme circumstances, once addicted, we see our lives becoming impacted in negative ways that we did not fully appreciate. It is this lack of awareness that blinds us to the slow erosion of our most cherished values, and excessive Internet use can mindlessly peel away our time and attention to a point that we forget what real-time living feels like.

Part 2

      Breaking Down Addictive Technologies

IN THIS PART …

       Define the addictive nature of social media and how social validation looping keeps you endlessly viewing, posting, and commenting on your social media apps and websites.

       Check out the growing phenomenon of streamed online entertainment and the addictive nature of consuming content in this growing Internet-based format.

       Recognize the addictive nature of video gaming and how games are designed to capture more than your imagination. Nearly three out of four households in the United States have someone who video games — that is, according to 2020 statistics, about 214 million people — and for most, it’s a fun form of entertainment. However, a small percentage of people find themselves lost in their game world without finding a way out.

       Understand that the Internet fuels the power of purchasing and gambling online. Online shopping, gambling, and stock trading are very different than when they’re done in other formats, and present unique challenges in not crossing the line online.

       Examine the addictive nature of Internet pornography and the long relationship between pornography and technology, which, when woven together, create a powerfully addictive combination.