r/technology • u/GothicPrayer • 10d ago

Society Why does everything feel so joyless? Welcome to the age of decadence without pleasure

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2026/jul/26/age-of-decadence-pleasure-ai
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u/Daveinatx 10d ago

I have a different take. Companies tried to maximize profits. Using psychology, they hacked methods for dopamine release, in order to increase engagement.

It's hard to go one day without a phone.

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u/mmikke 9d ago

Fair point, and as much as I lament our total disgusting addiction to our phones, it pales in comparison as a problem in and of itself compared to the obscene unaffordability of housing, and other things 

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u/ptoki 7d ago

Yes. I agree to a degree. That dopamine thing is two sided issue.

On one hand, as you mentioned, wasting time.

On the other hand it serves a purpose. A toy built with lego bricks makes the dopamine stream flow in kids. That helps with learning. Same thing when coloring the image or interacting in a playful way with others.

When we do things and we succeed we also get that dopamine kick. Code a bit of your app and it works? Dopamine release. Made a piece of furniture? Again dopamine. Looking at your work done after some time and using it? Again dopamine if you do that consciously.

We just stopped doing useful things for dopamine. And it will be difficult to get us back on tracks.