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this post was submitted on 04 Sep 2025
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not to defend smart phones, but I used to read books on the toilet before phones became popular and never had a problem. What's different about a phone?
Books weren't designed to be addictive and make you lose track of time.
FTA:
Maybe not all books, but a good book is, to me, quite addictive and causes me to lose track of time.
After reading the article though, I'm realizing I'm not a typical bathroom user. I've always had digestive issues unrelated to books and cell phones, so my loo time is much longer than average, it seems. I must be one of those 7%.
I know this is semantics, but I would say a good book is engaging rather than addicting. Many phone apps are specifically designed with addiction in mind, targeting the pleasure centers of your brain to keep you playing/scrolling/etc. But I also acknowledge that this is similar to style guides on keeping the reader interested.
I would describe it as a difference in degree.
That's fair. The more "engaging" something is, the more its effects may mirror that of something "addicting". I'm also thinking about how engagement is a factor of addictive marketing.
The end result though, for me at least, is the same. If I'm engaged in my book, or addicted to my phone, I'm still sitting motionless, staring at a thing, and reading. The difference I suppose is on how hard it is to look away.
I'm glad this is the only social media I really use!
I always used to read the paper (remember those?) or a magazine on the bog. I don't think I'm spending more time there since I've had a brainrotting device.