On average, Americans check their phones 262x per day. A lot of that time is spent on social networks.Many ex-employees from Apple, Google, or Facebook are intentionally designed to be addictive.Peter Mezyk, an app developer, says that Instagram and Facebook users can become as dependent on apps than they would be on painkillers.Business Insider: Daily selection of curated stories Loading Click to sign up for Insider marketing emails. You also agree to receive partner offers.Reviews.org conducted a survey of 1,000 Americans 18 years and older earlier this year to find out more about their use of cell phones. According to the survey, Americans check their phones an average of 262 times per day.Although it may appear that our smartphone behavior is due to our wiring, in reality, there is something called behavioral design.In an interview with Insider, Peter Mezyk, an app developer, said that "the success of an app can often be measured by how it introduces new habits."This developer is the director of Nomtek, an international app agency that has developed apps for dictionary Pons and travel and tourism company Tui. Prosieben Sat1 is the media company.Mezyk says there are two types of apps: one is a painkiller and the other is a supplement. Hannah Schwr / Business Insider DeutschlandDevelopers will be satisfied if we open an application every day. Social media platforms such as Instagram and Facebook allow us to spend more time on them, which means more advertising revenue for tech companies.Critics have accused Instagram and Facebook of intentionally designing their apps to encourage addictive behavior design.An app that manipulates our behavior can be achieved in three stepsMezyk says that to form a habit, you need three criteria: enough motivation, action and trigger. This three-pronged approach is now the standard for app developers and is based on B.J. Fogg's Fogg Behavior model. Fogg.An app can only be opened if it has a certain feeling or motivation. It could be the feeling of anticipation when our phone vibrates, but it could also be the fear that we might miss something.Motivation is not enough. We must also take action to get into the behavior loop, such as clicking the "Like" button or downloading the app. It should not be too high.The trigger is what determines whether an action occurs. The trigger is what pulls us in to the app. It could be our phone vibrating, or our screen flashing with a new message.There are two types: painkiller and supplement appsIt doesn't have to be bad. Apps can help you become more productive and get more exercise.Ex-employees at Apple, Google and Facebook warn that many tech companies intentionally design addictive apps. It is easy to see that the more you spend time on an app, the more profit it generates.These ex-employees claim that tech giants seek to maximize your time on apps to maximize their profits, regardless of the impact it has on the mental and emotional well-being of users.Mezyk says that apps can be addictive because companies ask themselves first how they can make money using them. BIMezyk says that it is mainly one type of app that is the problem.He said that there are two types of app: one is a painkiller and the other is a supplement.According to the developer, "Supplement Apps" solve specific problems, streamline processes, and make life easier. They generally satisfy our information needs quickly, so they can be used quite frequently and briefly.Social media apps offer a high potential for addictionWith "painkiller applications", the situation is very different.Mezyk says they don't fulfill a clearly defined need. We simply find them attractive.He said that they typically create a stimulus, which often revolves around negative emotions like boredom or loneliness.Ex-employees at Apple, Google, and Facebook warned that big tech companies intentionally design addictive apps. Google ImagesMezyk says that addiction can be much more easily if we use "painkiller" apps rather than "supplement app".He said that Facebook is an example of a supplement which can quickly turn into a painkiller once you reach the point where you cannot live without it anymore. It's not a good idea to demonize apps. However, ethical app development and monetisation are not mutually exclusive.Mezyk argued that while some apps can be addictive, most companies ask how they can make money from them. However, ethical app development is focused on the user.
