The Digital Spaces Seduction of the Unknown
The things that human beings cannot predict always fascinate them. The mystery of the unknown is even more ancient than civilization itself–it took explorers to new unknown seas, scientists to put their eyes under the microscope, and me on more than one occasion to reach out to refresh my social feeds in the middle of the night. The contemporary online space has transformed such an age-old interest into an everyday routine, in which doubt is packaged as entertainment, interaction, and even obsession.
Curiosity as Currency
Curiosity is not just an endearing idiosyncrasy of the human mind, but it is a survival mechanism. Our forerunners needed to venture, experiment and take chances to succeed. We continue to be rewarded by the brain with the dopamine, the chemical behind pleasure and motivation, when we seek novelty. However, the trick here is that dopamine peaks the most when we are getting a reward, and when we expect to get one.
That is why the suspense is usually more exciting than the resolution. Spin clicking, waiting until a mystery box is opened/ clicking, waiting until a message notification- all of them are pulling on the same old wiring. The cyberspace is aware of it, and it is glad to have us guessing.
The Neuroscience of Uncertainty.
It is long known by neuroscientists that unpredictable rewards are more invigorating when compared with predictable rewards. This is a concept that is referred to as variable rewards which is the magic sauce of slot machines to the surprise loot in online games. Whenever the brain faces the unpredictable, it logs a failure to predict a reward triggering the ventral striatum and increasing excitement.
Consider it in such a way, that when a person gives a person a EUR5 note, every day, at noon, you would appreciate it–but soon you would be bored. Would you, instead, every now and then have EUR0, and now and then EUR50, and now and then a token of free coffee? Suddenly, you’re hooked. The system feeds on intermittent reinforcement and the brain obliges in making sure that it reinforces the behavior.
Digital Mysteries: Home of the Unknown.
The digital platforms are experts in transforming the unknown into unresisted bait.
Online Gaming & Casinos: In this case, the seduction of the unknown is more overt. Betrolla Portugal is an example of platforms where uncertainty and anticipation are balanced to maintain digital interaction. It is not the possible victories that make the rush, but the artificially created suspense, the moment prior to the unveiling, the glimmer of prospective.
Social Media: I have been used to the infinite scroll, and it seems to be a dopamine loop that is disguised as casual browsing. The swipe can contain a meme, breaking news, or vacation pictures of your ex. The vagaries make you stick around much longer than you had planned.
Streaming Platforms: ‘Recommended to you’ is like a crystal ball reading, will it be the next favourite show, or are you going to give up on it in two minutes? Either way, you check.
Systematic Rewards in a Disorganized World.
Naturally, no one desires unmitigated unpredictability. A system that makes you feel like it is in a constant state of chaos causes decision fatigue and not excitement. This is where formal rewards come into the picture.
Consider casino cashback systems, e.g. Cashback is a form of safety net: a consistent offset, that will give the player a sense of security in case the unforeseen does not favor him. It is a play between uncertainty and certainty – risk mingled with comfort. According to behavioral economists, such tension forms strong loyalty systems. Users are attracted by the mystery of the unknown and at the same time are kept attached by the feeling of stability.
It is not only in gambling platforms. The same reasoning is used in the case of loyalty programs, gamified learning applications, and even health trackers. They add enough puzzling situations to keep us wanting more, but at the same time, they do not add too much, so that we are not exhausted.
What the Experts Say
According to psychologists, the digital platforms have in effect industrialized curiosity. They manipulate the nature of nature making us revert to them again by compounding variable rewards with layers of cognitive bias such as overestimating rare events or chasing near misses.
Neuroscientists caution that such dopamine-loyalty loops can cause one to blur the distinction between pleasure and addiction, especially with respect to immediate gratification systems. Nevertheless, platform designers and marketers justify the practice by saying that it is the unpredictability that makes digital spaces interesting and not boring.
