If you were to describe Digital Marketing, it would be defined as grabbing attention using digital platforms. There are constantly new and innovative ways that marketers do this, they find their way in to your mailbox and even when you’re socialising with friends online. To aid this, phone devices are designed to be addicting- Vox talks about how bright and colourful icons embedded in layouts intend to keep users hooked.
Apps replicate the process of pulling a slot machine lever, with the pull to refresh feature. That’s a conscious design choice where apps are continually updating new content but the pull action provides an addicting illusion of control over that process. Just like a slot machine, we are hooked to the uncertainty and will continue to scroll for longer looking for new information that keeps us stimulated.
Vox talks about eliminating non-human notifications, which means to turn off notifications that aren’t induced by a person. This forces to question- when will phone users finally realise how saturated marketing affect their lives and when will they learn to ignore marketing messages?
It’s really refreshing to hear that there is more awareness around addiction to social media as finding ways to prevent or fix habits help tremendously. By being selective to content, marketers are forced to be more strategic with their marketing tactics.
What are your thoughts on this? Do marketers have a responsibility for user’s addiction or should we blame the design of mobile phones?
Fifi's blog 
I’m definitely addicted so the various social media platforms I am a member of. I find it hard to blame anyone but myself. I know that these apps are designed to be addictive and keep me scrolling for way too long but I do it anyway.
LikeLike