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A Dark Consensus About Screens and Kids Begins to Emerge in Silicon Valley

nytimes.com

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Re: A Dark Consensus About Screens and Kids Begins to Emerge in Silicon Valley

#511

Post by 80mph »

closeparen wrote: post #510
andrei_says_ wrote: post #452

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Screen time focuses the senses on a small square and demobilizes the body while putting the brain in a comfortably numb, trance-like state. It robs a child’s body and brain from developing social and motor skills in a 3D world. Time spent in the trance state is habit forming and is in general stolen from time spent exploring the world, and letting the brain learn from full bandwidth experiences. So yes, It is the scr…

Can't you say the same thing about a book?

I would say no. Reading involves more use of one's imagination. Certainly, there are books that can easily put me to sleep after a few sentences. But when I'm reading my favorite genre (mysteries), my imagination is constantly at work. I cast the characters in my head using real-life actors and actresses, and a movie begins playing in my mind. That's the power of a good author.

Re: A Dark Consensus About Screens and Kids Begins to Emerge in Silicon Valley

#512

Post by 4ad »

HoppyHaus wrote: post #430
Aeolos wrote: post #334

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Gimp 2.10 is really rather pleasant to use. Some pains remain, but it's (very slowly) getting there.

Gimp as a whole becomes ten times better once you enable single window mode.

Gimp having multiple windows is its best feature. Luckily, Photoshop on macOS (but not Windows) also has multiple windows mode (though it's emulated, they aren't really operating system windows, so not as nice as Gimp).

Re: A Dark Consensus About Screens and Kids Begins to Emerge in Silicon Valley

#513

Post by nyghtly »

entee wrote: post #399
kartan wrote: post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> They are specifically designed to function like a slot machine. I work in the gambling industry, making literally slot machines. Slot machines are heavily regulated and there is a lot of "engagement" tricks that can not be used in the gambling industry. The kind of trick that Candy Crush will use. The dangerous side of gambling is for people that think that they can "win money". But the games themselves are kind of…

I'm curious to know some examples of what is and isn't permitted. The flashing lights, interesting but not too interesting ding-dong-boom sounds, the loud massive amping up when you win something, all that is allowed and I believe (though don't quite have a source at hand) that these are provably enticing hooks. I'm sure there are things that aren't, but I'm curious as to what. I'm also curious about want Candy Crush…

For one, it's illegal for children to play on a slot machine.

Re: A Dark Consensus About Screens and Kids Begins to Emerge in Silicon Valley

#514

Post by Wowfunhappy »

wott wrote: post #470
Wowfunhappy wrote: post #419

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"The dark pattern is series themselves." So, making good content that happens to span multiple episodes? That's the kind of engagement I really don't have an issue with. However—Netflix has autoplay next episode turned on by default, and if you find the setting to turn it off, each episode ends with a large screen prompting you to PLEASE click to play the next episode. As someone who really likes episodes to end clea…

> So, making good content that happens to span multiple episodes? That's the kind of engagement I really don't have an issue with. No, it doesn't mean "good content" at all (it can accidentally be good content, but that's not usually the case). It means the ability to use tricks to get you hooked, to have you craving for more, and to trigger binge behaviour, no matter what the content is. There was no such binge cons…

This is an interesting take.

I think where I draw the line with Netflix compared to Facebook or Youtube is twofold:

1) Netflix does not have such a wealth of content that they micro-target my individual psyche†. When I watch Stranger Things, I don't feel like I'm being manipulated, and I feel satisfied with the time I spent when I'm done.

2) As long as I maintain my subscription, Netflix makes the same amount of money regardless of how much or little time I spend on their service. So I feel as though my interests are generally aligned with theirs.

And, this may be neither here nor there, but I inherently like serials, and have since I was a child. I just spent nearly two years reading the Wheel of Time novels and becoming super immersed in that fantasy world. Longer and slower paced stories aren't necessarily paced poorly, although they certainly can be‡.

†They can do more subtle things like adjust a show's poster image, but at least that doesn't affect the content.

‡Wheel of Time specifically has massive pacing issues, and thus may not have been the best example here.

Re: A Dark Consensus About Screens and Kids Begins to Emerge in Silicon Valley

#515

Post by btbuildem »

mediaman wrote: post #104
danesparza wrote: post #60

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You've gotten me wondering: Why AREN'T certain games subject to the same regulations as slot machines? Is that a state-by-state regulation? A federal regulation? And does the regulating code specifically mention physical machines? Thanks in advance for satisfying my curiosity.

This is actually a rapidly developing area of law. There is a lawsuit brought by Washington State that is arguing that virtual credits, in connection with games of chance, constitutes "something of value" that is covered by the state's gambling laws. If the state wins, it could result in an expansion of regulation of this type of mobile game. Here's an article with some more detail. https://www.geekwire.com/2018/game…

That's interesting! Even though they are not legal tender (and cannot be exchanged for goods and services etc), the argument is that they are still OF VALUE for those who hold them.

Re: A Dark Consensus About Screens and Kids Begins to Emerge in Silicon Valley

#516

Post by georgeappiah »

80mph wrote: post #511
closeparen wrote: post #510

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Can't you say the same thing about a book?

I would say no. Reading involves more use of one's imagination. Certainly, there are books that can easily put me to sleep after a few sentences. But when I'm reading my favorite genre (mysteries), my imagination is constantly at work. I cast the characters in my head using real-life actors and actresses, and a movie begins playing in my mind. That's the power of a good author.

If you'd say "no" to reading a book because it engages more use of one's imagination, how is reading a dead tree book different from reading an ebook on screen? The latter is still lumped together gaming and all other uses as "screen time."
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