The Future of ADHD - Part IV
B.U.D.S | The Great Rewiring and Scarcity Loops.
The Future of ADHD is an ongoing series of posts where I detail my thoughts on the rising prevalence of ADHD, and how technology may be negatively influencing education and mental health. All opinions are from my perspective as a Father and Pediatric Pharmacist.
If you’re interested in reading past posts on this topic, follow the links below. Thanks for your support!
Here’s a not-so-bold prediction: This decade, attention spans will continue to shrink, ADHD diagnoses will rise and prescriptions for stimulant medicines will skyrocket.
Two reasons.
First - The Great Rewiring.
Smartphones, tablets and instant-gratification applications are becoming more ubiquitous and infiltrating every facet of our lives, consuming more attention. This trend is becoming even more problematic as younger children and adolescents become more exposed to these weapons of mass distraction (WMD).
I just Google searched “newborn Tiktok”1 and the hashtag has over 55 billion views. These aren’t just trashy trends, Millenial and GenZ parents are more attached to their devices than ever. As a society, we are participating in a mass social experiment of replacing the traditional, play-based childhood with a phone-based childhood, and the early indicators don’t suggest an optimistic outlook.
Social psychologist and researcher, Jonathan Haidt, refers to this phenomenon as the “great rewiring of childhood.”
It’s impacting the entire spectrum of childhood - from infants to teens - kids today are growing up in a world of screens with less time interacting with others and less time in unstructured play, without anxious parents hovering over their every move. Working in pediatrics, and as a Father of two, I see this happening in real time.
I’m not a neuroscientist, but I’ve studied a bit of anatomy and physiology to understand a few aspects of brain development. As we age from adolescence into adulthood, our prefrontal cortex develops and mature. This is the area of the brain that is mainly responsible for executive functioning - important adult things like self-control, decision making and problem-solving.
A child’s brain is unique. It’s constantly upgrading, adapting, and developing. During this delicate period of growth, it doesn’t make much sense to introduce a mesmerizing, supercomputer, filled with applications expertly designed to produce mind-altering, dopamine-inducing effects.
You’re probably thinking I’m being hyperbolic, fair point. After all, what’s the big deal if your kid is just watching an episode (or four) of Paw Patrol on Netflix, or watching a few clips on YouTube? What’s wrong with that?
This brings us to…
Second - The Scarcity Loop.
Every new bit of technology or app seems to be getting better, more engaging, more addicting and more in-tuned with our desires and cravings.
The companies behind these technologies have the secret sauce. They blend our desires and vices with technology, weaponizing our phones and apps to take advantage of our primitive brains to keep us constantly engaged, trapped and addicted to their platforms. The secret to their success? The Scarcity Loop.
Shout out to Michael Easter, author of Scarcity Brain and The Comfort Crisis. In the short video above, he details the scarcity loop and how most smartphone applications use it to capture and retain your valuable attention. Below is a quick recap and breakdown of the scarcity loop from Michael’s Substack, Two Pct.
To understand the scarcity loop’s three parts, picture a slot machine. It offers:
Opportunity: We have an opportunity to get something of value. In the case of a slot machine, it’s money.
Unpredictable rewards: We don’t know when we’ll get the thing of value or how valuable it’ll be. Any given slot machine game could get you nothing, a few quarters, or a life-changing amount of money.
Quick repeatability: We can quickly repeat the behavior. The average slot machine player plays 16 games a minute, which is about as much as we blink
The scarcity loop is now embedded in social media, dating apps, sports gambling, personal finance apps like Robinhood, streaming TV and YouTube, the information cycle, and mobile video games like CandyCrush. It’s even in the food system and much more.2
Digital Landscapes and Generational Divides
I’m a millennial but I think like a boomer. I wish I could snap my fingers and go back to the 90s, but I know there’s no stopping the juggernaut of technological advancement. Some futurists are pencilling in the singularity by the decade’s end. So, should we just throw caution into the wind and dive head-first into the ever-expanding pool of technology, AI and social media?
To some degree, sure, I’m on board. We can’t put the genie back in the bottle. But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t pause to evaluate our relationship with technology. As it grows more sophisticated, capable and intelligent, we must tame and harness its power, so it’s not used against us.
Understanding the playbook of social media and the psychology woven into our tech is the first step toward reclaiming our agency and humanity.
Here’s a list of ways to fortify your mind, retrain your awareness and defend against the addicting, attention-grabbing pull of technology.
Delete or Limit Social Media Apps: I suggest you go cold turkey, however, if that’s too extreme, find a way to limit your access to them. Apps like Clearspace or Opal keep you accountable and can be a great resource to restrict screen time.
Embrace Stillness: Find a comfortable place in your dwelling to sit down, in silence for 10 minutes. Stare a blank wall or keep your eyes closed, your choice. Observe your mind. Watch it wander. Let it wander. Then come back to the breath or a mantra. And then, begin again.
Tech-free Timeouts: Schedule periods in your day, free from any tech. Go for a walk or run without your phone or AirPods. Find a cabinet or space to keep your phone out of sight and habitually put your device there daily.
Read, Don’t Scroll: Paperback, hardcover or a Kindle, not on your smartphone or tablet. Not an audiobook while washing the dishes. Just block out 10 minutes a day and read a physical book. People ask me how to build a habit of reading. Start with reading something you enjoy. Any genre, or topic that interests you.
Put Pen To Paper: Start a journal. Open a blank page in a notebook and write about things. Anything. List some things you’re grateful for. Reflect on your day or note down your aspirations. Writing is the most effective tool for organizing your thoughts and letting your attention flow, onto the paper.
Embrace Discomfort. Do Hard Things: once a week, do something very hard, without telling anyone, or recording and posting it. Take a cold shower. Walk up to the Starbucks barista and ask for a 20% discount. Engage in a brutal workout. Push past your limits, and you’ll realize limits don’t exist.
Question Technology’s Role: Is it a tool you’re using to advance yourself - is it positively contributing to your success, health or wealth? Or are you becoming a slave to your devices- are they draining your energy and attention away from the things that matter most to you?
In today’s day and age, where information is condensed into 10-second reels, TikTok ADHD influencers pathologize everyday quirks for views, and stimulant prescriptions skyrocket from online subscription “mental health” services, it's imperative to navigate these waters with a blend of modern awareness and timeless wisdom.
Balancing technological progress with the fundamentals of old-school sensibility and a sprinkle of common sense can provide us with a compass in charting a course toward a healthier relationship with technology. In the end, it’s up to you. Good luck.
Thanks for reading. Much love.
SG
Build. Understand. Discipline. Stillness. “B.U.D.S” is written by me, Dr. Shawn Gill - I’m a pharmacist and Father of two boys. During the day, I work as a deprescribing pharmacist, helping patients get off drugs, safely and effectively. At night, I write this newsletter. B.U.D.S is a community that's focused on inspiring individuals to take account of their health and wellness, as well as reverse mental health and chronic disease. If you’d like to support this mission, please subscribe below. Much love. SG
References and Shout-Outs
Shout-out to Jonathan Haidt. His book, The Anxious Generation will be released on March 26, 2024. If you’re a parent and want to understand the world your child is growing up in, I’d highly recommend you follow Jon’s work. It’s been a tremendous resource, helping me parent my kids with intentionality and presence.
Shout-out to Michael Easter. I’d recommend following his substack, The Two Pct.
No, I don’t use TikTok, and hopefully never will. If you haven’t realized, I dislike most social media platforms, especially TikTok. Meta sucks too. So does Instagram. I’m old.
To read more about the Scarcity Loop, I’d highly recommend checking out the article on Michael’s substack. Click here if interested.
