[zoltrix303]

I read a book called "the power of habits" a few years back and there was a few chapters focusing on the gamification and how our brains tend to develop habits (and in some case addiction).

Ever since reading this book, I've noticed patterns in the way apps are developed.

Candy crush and other similar game apps are a bit obvious, but for me the most sticking one for me is the facebook app. They introduced a few years back these emoji that flash in the screen when you received a hearth or a smiley face in the chat. This is almost a direct copy of a technique used by the gambling industry where they flash coins in the screen of a gambling machine. In the book, I believed they explained that by making positive results / feeling of result stronger, you can trigger more deep rooted habits.

[ROTMetro]

I remember when acquaintances at Facebook first saw all of the psychological stuff Candy Crush was doing and how distraught they were about it. So sad that they chose to emulate what they knew was horrible behavior.