The proliferation of mobile applications in the digital age has introduced a captivating yet disconcerting dimension to human behavior and technology interaction. Mobile applications, ranging from social media platforms to games and productivity tools, have gained notoriety for their potential to foster addiction-like behaviors in users. This research paper delves into the intricate realm of the psychology behind addictive applications in technology, seeking to illuminate the multifaceted dynamics that underlie this contemporary challenge. Drawing on insights from psychology, cognitive science, and human-computer interaction, this study explores the fundamental questions surrounding the nature of addiction within the digital context. It investigates the cognitive and emotional factors that drive users to engage compulsively with specific applications, shedding light on the alluring mechanisms that captivate and hold user attention. Furthermore, this research uncovers the ethically charged design and marketing strategies employed by application developers to perpetuate addictive use patterns. By examining the deliberate design choices that exploit human psychology, we aim to provoke a deeper conversation about the responsible development and marketing of digital technologies.
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Hans et al. (2024) studied this question.
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