1st Reflective Essay

Moriah Richards "Business benefits from addiction" (Davidow, 2012). Bill Davidow explores how technology companies fuel internet "pleasure-seeking" behaviors and how they affect human emotions in his paper, Exploiting the Neuroscience of the Internet Addiction. Davidow (2012) opens the piece by outlining the perspective of the tech company, offering explanations and examples of the science underlying internet addiction and exposing the unsettling fact that internet obsession will only increase. However, by offering his personal opinion on how to effectively manage these behaviors, he reassures the reader toward the end of the article that there is a way to live in an increasingly virtual world (Davidow, 2012). Davidow writes to educate his readers, who are frequent internet users, about the prevalence of internet-based addiction among many people in the modern world. He provides a way to counteract the dependence on these kinds of actions. Davidow (2012) asserts that the dopamine released in anticipation of positive news is what drives the urge to constantly check email, social media, stock prices, and other internet-based information sources. In the virtual world, neuroscientific methods are being used to create increasingly captivating obsessions. The issue cannot be solved easily, but it is more crucial than ever to understand that the effects of our virtual environment are very real (Davidow, 2012). Davidow begins his piece by outlining the ethically dubious requirement that internet companies must meet. According to him, internet companies either use neuroscience to increase their market share and generate huge profits, or they allow rivals to do so and take over the market. Everyone who engages in online activities is the target audience. We know this because Davidow explained the neuroscience underlying the release of dopamine into the brain's pleasure centers, which is what motivates many of us to engage in online activities. Davidow (2012) captivates the reader by describing what's going on in so many individuals when we partake in what he refers to as "pleasure-seeking activities." He continues by explaining that some people may develop an obsession with these experiences, much like they might develop an addiction to heroin, cocaine, or smoking (Davidow, 2012). The tone Davidow uses in the piece is one of concern. As mentioned in the previous paragraph, he draws a comparison between the neuroscience of drug use and the addictive nature of some internet experiences. The reader can consider their own experiences using the internet to ascertain their own feelings while engaging in these activities, which makes the comparison effective. Those who have friends who play video games for hours on end can relate to the example of gaming companies creating a "compulsion loop." It also applies to regular gamblers, including those with short-term gambling obsessions that produce a tiny dopamine release and, consequently, an addictive quality. The example of gaming was simply Using only one example, Davidow (2012)'s main argument enables the reader to consider scenarios that are comparable in nature. To bolster his credibility, Davidow (2012) makes both historical and contemporary allusions throughout his piece. Thomas Edison's statement, "I find out what the world needs," is one of these references. After that, I try to create something new (Davidow, 2012). The inclusion of this quote serves to highlight the parallels between the Internet Age and the Industrial Age. He contrasts Edison's statement with the catchphrases of contemporary internet businesses, which aim to "create an obsession, then exploit it" (Davidow, 2012). By highlighting the shared perspective of people from various eras, Davidow demonstrates to the reader that this problem is not a recent development. The ethos, ethical argument, or strategies used to persuade readers of the author'sin the last few years (Davidow, 2012). Davidow also employs pathos, which is an emotional appeal used to persuade an audience by appealing to their emotions. He continues by describing the neuroscience underlying compulsive online behavior, going into great detail about how dopamine is released in the brain during these activities. Furthermore, Davidow employs strong language to illustrate the magnitude of the deception that takes place by presenting a suggested response from a well-known marketing author who "would surely be shocked to see how primitive the exploitation techniques he described now seem" and who "...questioned the morality of exploiting emotions in order to sell products" (Davidow, 2012). The use of logic to persuade an audience is known as logos. As previously mentioned, Davidow's attitude toward the topic is reflected in the language he uses throughout his piece. Furthermore, his use of the word "exploiting" in the article's title expresses his position on the gravity of the problem in the modern world. According to his description, the opposing viewpoint is that "addiction is good for business" (Davidow, 2012). Data on the enjoyment component of internet addictions is also included by him. This author only offers evidence to support the view that excessive internet use is unavoidably harmful to the general public. The discussion is mainly one-sided because Davidow probably wants to convey the negative effects of the internet on people's lives (Davidow, 2012). Internet use, particularly excessive use, is becoming a widespread problem in society that only seems to have negative effects. In addition to describing his self-taught methods for overcoming screen temptation, Davidow acknowledges the humanity of these tendencies. Marketing firms target and profit from online activities that lead to compulsive, addictive behavior. Humans have a very hard time resisting the neurological urge that could frequently lead to pleasure. Davidow (2012) does a good job of offering a biased viewpoint on the drawbacks of excessive internet use.