Videos automatically begin playing the next piece of content without any user action required. Found on TikTok, YouTube, Instagram Reels, and Facebook Watch.

Machine learning systems that prioritize content based on predicted engagement (clicks, watch time, shares) rather than user-stated preferences, quality, or wellbeing.

Content (Stories, Snaps) that disappears after 24 hours or after viewing, creating artificial urgency and scarcity.

Content loads continuously as the user scrolls, with no natural endpoint or pagination. The feed regenerates endlessly, removing any natural "stopping point" that would prompt the user to consciously decide whether to continue.

Displaying numerical metrics of social approval (likes, followers, views, shares) publicly. These numbers quantify social status and create measurable social hierarchies.

Alerts sent to devices to draw users back to the platform. Strategically timed and worded to maximize re-engagement. Can intrude at any time including late night.

Features that create implicit obligations to respond—read receipts, typing indicators, follower/following counts, and mutual friend displays.

Features that track consecutive days of activity and reset if a day is missed. Most prominent in Snapchat but variations exist across platforms.

Users receive social validation (likes, comments, shares) at unpredictable intervals. This mirrors slot machine psychology—the uncertainty of "when" a reward will come maximizes anticipation and checking behavior.