Short-form video algorithms exploit the same intermittent reinforcement that makes slot machines addictive

Short-form video algorithms exploit intermittent reinforcement, a psychological phenomenon identified by B.F. Skinner in the 1930s that can triple addiction rates compared to predictable rewards. By delivering a novel dopamine hit every 15 to 60 seconds via an unpredictable feed, platforms like TikTok achieve 70 percent user retention. These interfaces are meticulously engineered using Fitts' Law to minimize motor delay to a mere 200 milliseconds, ensuring the transition between 'foraging' for content is nearly instantaneous.