Essay reframes smartphone checking as an addiction to information
An Explorator essay argues that compulsive online checking is driven by the search for valuable discoveries, while criticising personalised algorithms and short-form content.
A first-person essay published by Explorator and listed on Hacker News argues that repeated checking of online platforms and smartphones reflects a craving for useful information, rather than dependence on the internet or devices themselves.
The author describes a cycle in which even brief boredom prompts a quick check of services including Facebook, Reddit, Hacker News, 9GAG and Instagram. The behaviour is framed as a search for the “highs” of discovering particularly valuable content.
The essay says smartphones and mobile internet expanded the opportunities to check platforms throughout the day. The author recalls finding material that had a significant personal impact, including content that helped them lose 25kg.
The author also criticises personalised recommendation algorithms, arguing that they are designed to capture attention for brief periods without necessarily helping users learn or develop new ideas. Short-form, hook-oriented content is presented as a poor substitute for the exploration associated with the earlier internet.
The essay calls for a move towards greater “fragmentation”, although it does not explain the proposed solution in detail. Its account of “information addiction” is a personal interpretation, not a clinical assessment.
