The Rise of Digital Addiction: AI and Algorithms
More and more online platforms, from e-commerce websites to social media platforms, are exploiting the power of AI for the purpose of maximising user-engagement. The darker, more invisible side to this trend however is that increased user-engagement inevitably encourages addictive behaviours. From compulsively scrolling on social media to desperately shopping for the latest bargains, digital addiction is gripping the lives of more people as AI algorithms become smarter.
In this blog, we’ll dive into the problem of digital addiction, the role that AI algorithms are playing in this emerging trend, and how you can help yourself if you or a loved one are experiencing digital addiction.
AI and Social Media Algorithms
Social media platforms are increasingly leveraging the power of AI to improve their algorithms. By constantly monitoring user behaviours - their clicks, likes, and other interactions, AI algorithms can generate content that is tailored to specific individuals. The content users see is consequently hyper-personalised: it is generated on what the algorithm believes the user will find most entertaining based on their interactions.
AI integration tools are therefore designed to maximise user engagement, increasing the likelihood that users will return to the platform and stay there for longer.
This isn’t just limited to one platform either, AI algorithms also work cross-platform. Your searches and interactions on search engines could see similar content emerge on social media platforms, fuelling digital engagement more widely.
TikTok and AI: A Case Study
The social media platform that stands head and shoulders above the rest in its clever use of AI algorithms is TikTok. TikTok provides users with a never-ending feed of short, eye-catching videos, each designed to capture users’ attention. Momentarily entertained, users can get addicted to this feeling of instant gratification. This constant stream of content is fuelled by AI integration tools. TikTok uses an algorithm called ‘filter bubbles’ which monitors user behaviour to offer more tailored content. By tracking user interactions, such as likes, comments and engagement time, the TikTok ‘For You’ page provides users with more personalised content by the day. By feeding users with content that they believe they will find most relevant and entertaining, TikTok attempts to keep users more engaged with their platform and keep them coming back for more.
After TikTok exploded onto the scene, the competition has since scrambled to emulate their success. Instagram reels launched in 2020, and YouTube introduced ‘YouTube shorts’ in the same year, both designed to catch up with the competition. In an identical fashion to TikTok, these features seek to generate a never-ending supply of short video content to keep users as engaged as possible.
It is therefore easy to see how AI integration and social media algorithms can fuel addictive behaviours. With each video or piece of content that a user finds interesting or entertaining, short bursts of dopamine are released that the brain can get used to. Over time, a user can get addicted to this feeling, compulsively checking their mobile phone and other digital devices for further gratification.
AI and Online Shopping
Another industry that stands out for its use of AI-powered algorithms is the e-commerce industry. By meticulously tracking user behaviour, from browsing history to purchase patterns, AI algorithms create a hyper-personalised shopping environment. Dynamic product recommendations, tailored discounts, and even cross-platform advertisements are used to create a shopping experience that feels uniquely tailored to individuals.
These AI integration tools are designed to maximise user engagement, increasing the likelihood that users will return to the platform and continue browsing. This fuels a seamless and engaging shopping experience that blurs the lines between desire and need.
The instant gratification of finding exactly what you want in just a few clicks however can be highly addictive. As users spend more time on these platforms, algorithms will gain even more data, further enhancing their ability to keep users engaged, encouraging further digital dependency.
Digital Addiction: An emerging trend
Digital addiction, or internet addiction, is therefore a very real health threat. Defined as feeling the need to spend an excessive amount of time on digital devices, digital addiction can disrupt healthy daily activities and behaviours. It could eat into time spent exercising, socialising face-to-face, or getting a good night’s sleep. Digital addiction should therefore not be taken lightly: it can significantly harm your quality of life and cause significant mental health issues, such as depression and anxiety. A condition in and of itself, you should seek support if you feel you have an addiction to digital devices and the internet.
The Importance of Self-Compassion
AI and social media algorithms prove however that we shouldn’t be too hard on ourselves if we find that we are increasingly glued to our phones. These tools and techniques are specifically engineered to promote user-engagement and to keep us coming back for more, exploiting our natural brain chemistry. It is therefore important to practice self-compassion and recognise that anyone could fall victim to such addictive-behaviours, because websites and social media platforms specifically encourage it.