We are in a Dopamine loop

I think genetically we were all engineered to be journalists, every other profession we engage in is just random stuff we stumbled upon. For, man loves to report; we always want to be the first to share something interesting.

Think about all that you keep sharing daily. How much of it happened because you decided to study a subject, sat down, did your homework and then decided to share it with friends you knew would be interested in your findings?
Chances are, none.

You were in a cab, you were waiting for a meeting, you were in the metro or you were procrastinating when you picked up your phone and started scrolling. And whatever caught half a fancy of yours you shared, randomly.

We are rabid information seekers and the internet is just godsend. Our brain is gratification-seeking monster, it seeks dopamine.

Dopamine is released by rewarding experiences like sex, food and drugs. Replace these fixes with information-seeking and you have just hit a goldmine. We are in a dopamine loop.

Aiding and abetting this suicidal loop is that evil genius — the smartphone. Look at how important the phone has become in our lives. In our pocket, right next to our bed, next to us on the couch.

It has replaced every other affection of ours. The average Indian millennial spends 2.2 hours with the phone every day while their American equivalent spends more than 4! We can’t take our eyes off it, we live in aching expectation of that notification tone and that gratifying little glow. This reminds me of E.E. Cummings-

Lady, I will touch you with my mind.
Touch you and touch and touch
until you give
me suddenly a smile, shyly obscene.

Excerpts from WHERE WILL MAN TAKE US