Technology has been a part of our lives for over a decade now, and it is learning and growing every day. We often even wonder about a world without technology, and it almost seems dystopic to think about it. The mere thought of living without technology sounds primitive and odd to us now, even impossible.
Some people claim living without technology will be therapeutic and calming, yet, they cannot do without it themselves. We are so dependent on technology that we use for almost everything that is there under the sun. Technology is at our hands and ready to assist us even when we don’t need help.
It is almost as if we are addicted, and to be very honest to ourselves, we probably are. This addiction is quite a bit of our faults, but marketers who need us addicted feed this further.
Here are 5 ways marketers are making you addicted to technology:
Marketers do their work conveniently because we are addicted to technology; they can promote their products and interact. Marketers even contribute to enhance our addiction to the internet and other technology.
Today, let us take a look at five ways marketers are making you addicted to technology.
#1. Communication and Socialization
The most significant advancement of humankind is being able to communicate without physically being there. Social media apps allow daily updates about their lives, apps like Grammarly helps in writing clear and mistake-free messages, and video calling apps help communicate.
Every other day, there is a development in the app that adds a new feature nobody needed, but now want. Then there are blogs and videos on cooking, make-up, recent gadget reviews, reaction videos, and everything else.
Marketers use multiple factors such as these, and many advertise their products on these apps for profit.
#2. Multitasking
People have to keep up with the fast-paced environment they are in; technology is a blessing for that reason. Technology makes doing things so much easier; one can cook while writing, eat while playing, all thanks to technology.
The only dependence technology has on us is our usage; apart from that, technology’s independence is what we seek. The idea of technology doing our task while we spend time on something else makes it so addictive.
Marketers thus try to make technology as multitasking-friendly as possible, so it appeals to us.
#3. Control, Or So We Believe
A factor that heavily contributes to why we find technology appealing and addictive is the same as other addictions. The illusion of control is dangerous, we believe we are in charge, and the machine follows our commands.
Addicts are usually told to remind themselves that they control their addiction and not the other way around. Being in control means being capable of doing without the habit; if you can’t, you know your situation.
Marketers ensure they highlight the fact that you are in charge, making the purchase of their products more accessible.
#4. A Reminder that they Exist
The next pattern is exclusive to applications and games, the constant reminders, and notifications that pop up on our screens. Notices can be about the newest message you received, the last person who liked your post, or drinking water.
These apps’ job is to continually remind you that they exist and drag your attention to themselves. One often resolute about taking breaks from social media, acknowledging they are toxic and need a detox.
Somehow these detoxes always fail or come to an end, and marketers use precisely this to make their products engaging.
#5. Fast and Smooth Usage.
The primary demand from technology is efficiency so that the task we are employing is fulfilled by technology. Marketers thus amplify the speed and smoothness of these technologies so that we depend on them even more. Be it pureeing tomatoes or sending emails, technology comes with speed to ensure that the tasks are done quickly.
The rate provided by these machines and the internet helps us incorporate more in our day and have leisure time. Therefore, speed is one tool to make sure we depend more on technology until it becomes a growing addiction.
Conclusion
While writing this article, I drifted off to use multiple apps, use a washing machine, and made coffee. For that matter, writing this article and publishing it required technology, and I need to admit this honestly.
Technology is not the problem here, but the extensive dependency on it is a problem.
One loses self-dependency, and this weakness benefits multiple marketers, although someone’s benefit is always great, but not at own’s loss.
Therefore, be mindful of yourself, and give yourself the power of independence!
