I'm not addicted to the internet or my smartphone. I'm addicted to information

For a long time, the author believed they were hooked on internet forums. However, the emergence of platforms like Facebook, Reddit, Hacker News, 9GAG, Instagram and others led to an escalation in the amount of time spent online. With the improvement of smartphones and mobile internet, this habit became even more pervasive, occurring not only when using a computer but also at any time and in any place. The simple act of boredom prompted a brief check of these platforms.

Initially, the smartphone seemed to be the issue. Many have heard the comparison of a smartphone to a "cookie in your pocket" or the internet itself. It wasn't until the author realized the truth: they were not addicted to the internet or their smartphone, but to information. Specifically, they were addicted to high-quality information.

This addiction led to a state of constant stimulation, akin to playing a slot machine, until reaching the jackpot. The author has already experienced winning moments in this digital realm, and they are determined not to lose that feeling again. They have discovered valuable content that has positively impacted their life, leading them to seek out more of such valuable information.

However, the current state of recommendation algorithms and personalized content delivery exacerbates the problem. These algorithms are designed to gently manipulate the user's attention, just enough to capture brief moments of interest, without providing the opportunity for learning or sparking new ideas. They are more interested in grabbing eyeballs than fostering meaningful thought.

Despite this, the author's brain still craves the exhilaration associated with discovering and exploring high-value content, similar to the early days of the internet. The joy of finding those exceptional posts that improved their life, such as one that helped them lose 25kg, is something they cannot find in quick, superficial content. The internet of their youth no longer exists, and the author hopes for the demise of short-form, hook-oriented content. Fragmentation appears to be the answer.