Social Media is Hacking our Brains by jmcmeekin

steemit · @jmcmeekin · Dec 4 '17

$2.44

Social Media is Hacking our Brains

Hackers are concerned with the exploitation of vulnerabilities in systems. It would seem that social media platforms including Steemit and Facebook are exploiting vulnerabilities in the human psyche to hack our minds!

<center>![](https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2016/10/12/11/32/hacking-1734225_960_720.jpg)
*[Image Source](https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2016/10/12/11/32/hacking-1734225_960_720.jpg)</center>

## The Reason for Exploitation

Platforms, including Facebook require users to spend as much time as possible on the platform. This in turn allows the social media to sell advertising and generate a source of income.

Additionally, the collection of and subsequent selling of data is an enormous source of income for many social platforms.

It is in social networks interests for users to spend as much time as possible on any given platform in order to increase revenues!

## What’s the Vulnerability?

Dopamine. Dopamine is a drug released by the brain during pleasurable situations. Dopamine acts as a reward. When someone likes or comments on a picture, tweet or blog post our brains get a kick. Naturally, humans continue to seek out this kick and therefore post more on to social media in the hope that they will in turn get more likes and comments.

<center>![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bf/Socialmedia-pm.png)
*[Image Source](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bf/Socialmedia-pm.png) </center>

Steemit is particularly adept at this, not only do we get a kick from the vote or comment, but there is further reinforcement given in form of a financial stimulous.

## Social Media Goals

Social media operators aim to consume as much of our time as possible in order to make gain themselves. As customers we must be aware of this vulnerability in order to protect ourselves adequately. I am not suggesting we stop using social media, there are many benefits to using it, however we do need to protect ourselves by adjusting the time we spend on various platforms.

👍 qustodian, qurator, grandpawhale, goldendawne, busy.org, minnowsupport, feedyourminnows, gingerninja, jmcmeekin, thinkit, mcmonkey, bigdeej, juanyao, joeridamian, isteemit, scrooger, ethandsmith, gregory-f, lastminuteman, gomeravibz, valth, steemprentice, stephen.king989, oleg326756, coffeedrinker51, shadowspub, gamerveda, cryptastic, oscarps, nelinoeva, pusteblume, banjo, riseandshine, gindor, jhermanbeans, randyw, pomperipossa, robertvogt, derosnec, joanstewart, cryptohustler, whatamidoing, myday, decibel, edrivegom, numpypython, qwasert, beng05, jhagi.bhai, nesbitt, timbalabuch, itsmikechu, jean.racines

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@qurator · Dec 4 '17

Quratorcomment

<center>Qurator</center> | <center>Your Quality Content Curator</center>
-|-|
![](https://steemitimages.com/DQmNzJZFNXnViq9Ebmccf3rLi7kiYrcHFnFqeKK7QnWYtRs/COMMENT.png) | This post has been upvoted and given the stamp of authenticity by @qurator. To join the quality content creators and receive daily upvotes click [here](https://steemit.com/qurator/@qurator/qurator-update-cheaper-tier-access-and-increased-registration-fee) for more info. 
<center>*Qurator's exclusive support bot is now live. For more info click [HERE](https://steemit.com/qurator/@qurator/qurator-support-bot-alive-and-active-welcome-to-qustodian) or send some SBD and your link to @qustodian to get even more support.*</center>

👍 anomaly

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@minnowsupport · Dec 4 '17

<p>Congratulations!  This post has been upvoted from the communal account, @minnowsupport, by jmcmeekin from the Minnow Support Project.  It's a witness project run by aggroed, ausbitbank, teamsteem, theprophet0, someguy123, neoxian, followbtcnews/crimsonclad, and netuoso.  The goal is to help Steemit grow by supporting Minnows and creating a social network.  Please find us in the <a href="https://discord.gg/HYj4yvw">Peace, Abundance, and Liberty Network (PALnet) Discord Channel</a>.  It's a completely public and open space to all members of the Steemit community who voluntarily choose to be there.</p>

<p>If you would like to delegate to the Minnow Support Project you can do so by clicking on the following links: <a href="https://v2.steemconnect.com/sign/delegateVestingShares?delegator=&amp;delegatee=minnowsupport&amp;vesting_shares=102530.639667%20VESTS">50SP</a>, <a href="https://v2.steemconnect.com/sign/delegateVestingShares?delegator=&amp;delegatee=minnowsupport&amp;vesting_shares=205303.639667%20VESTS">100SP</a>, <a href="https://v2.steemconnect.com/sign/delegateVestingShares?delegator=&amp;delegatee=minnowsupport&amp;vesting_shares=514303.639667%20VESTS">250SP</a>, <a href="https://v2.steemconnect.com/sign/delegateVestingShares?delegator=&amp;delegatee=minnowsupport&amp;vesting_shares=1025303.639667%20VESTS">500SP</a>, <a href="https://v2.steemconnect.com/sign/delegateVestingShares?delegator=&amp;delegatee=minnowsupport&amp;vesting_shares=2053030.639667%20VESTS">1000SP</a>, <a href="https://v2.steemconnect.com/sign/delegateVestingShares?delegator=&amp;delegatee=minnowsupport&amp;vesting_shares=10253030.639667%20VESTS">5000SP</a>.  <strong>Be sure to leave at least 50SP undelegated on your account.</strong></p>

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@goldendawne · Dec 4 '17

>Dopamine. Dopamine is a drug released by the brain during pleasurable situations

Just like when people go to casinos and pull the lever.. over and over again. Just when they think all is lost,the _WIN_.. not much, never as much as they have lost. But the feeling of.. the next spin will be the big one.

Social media is the same. You have followers.. how many? Doesn't matter... you have more than the popular girl from high school decades ago. That's all that matters.

Are we starved for attention?

I had read somewhere moths ago that facebook is responsible for about 30% of all marriage breakups and divorces. Sad..., real sad

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@jmcmeekin · Dec 5 '17

30% is totally crazy, yet entirely believable. Sad. I wonder how many marriages are affected by Steemit?

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@goldendawne · Dec 5 '17

Would be interesting to find out as steemit grows more and more. But I think steemit is more of a business platform and not so much as reconnecting with old high school friends, etc. like other social media sites. But yeah, 30% is staggering!

I believe, and hope, that the ones on here that I associate with are working for either the cryptocurrency aspect or building a blogging, writing career.

I personally have no time for nonsense. Marriage strong and hubby has all access to the account. After all, the cryptocurrency earned here is for OUR retirement years down the line; so he should see the progression.

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