We all want to be liked. But now we want to be liked by sixteen million.
Denzil Washington, US-american actor
But what are the “human weak points”? Let’s take a little excursion into psychology:
Dopamine – also known as the “happiness hormone” – is a neurotransmitter of the central nervous system.
It regulates the blood flow and control of organs, and is responsible for pleasure and motivation. Dopamine balance is a sensitive system that can be thrown out of balance. ADHD, schizophrenia and Parkinson’s are diseases that are associated with disturbed dopamine levels. Dopamine is therefore also a component of some medicines.
This hormone also plays a central role in addictions. This is because intoxicants increase the release of dopamine and thus produce a state of happiness. If the dopamine level drops back to a normal level, psychological withdrawal symptoms occur.
The Cigarette of this Century.
Jan Bogost, award-winning game developer
Scientific research has shown that social media interaction also activates the release of dopamine and can thus lead to psychological addiction.
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