If I had to pick a catalyst, I'd go with monetization based on impressions or duration of use -- e.g. ad-based business models. The feedback loops hyper-optimized addictive behavior targeting serotonin.
Dopamine is the neurotransmitter associated with prediction of reward (aka desire/craving/addiction). Serotonin is very complex (in humans) but more about social-emotional processing.
Dopamine is the neurotransmitter you’re thinking of. And also glutamate since glutamatergic firing in brain reward pathways are heavy associated with addiction
And I would say this started with TV, well before the Internet. Maybe radio too? But I want to say that visual media are especially addictive? I wonder if there are any studies comparing social media addiction across sighted and non-sighted communities.
Dopamine is the neurotransmitter you’re thinking of. And also glutamate since glutamatergic firing in brain reward pathways are heavy associated with addiction