THE HIDDEN COST OF INSTANT GRATIFICATION

Whether it's news, social media, shopping or streaming our favourite shows, smartphones offer us life "on-demand". But experts think this convenience comes at a hidden cost, diminishing our patience and holding us back from reaching long-term goals.

- Words by Jo Jukes

Good things come to those who wait. It's a saying many of us are familiar with. But with smartphones and apps offering us the potential to have almost whatever we want, whenever we want it, the days when we needed to wait for things seem long gone.

Many retailers now offer same-day delivery. We can get a lift at the click of a button on ride-share apps. We can consume news stories instantly, instead of waiting to read tomorrow morning's newspaper. We're nudged when a streaming service drops a full season of a new show to binge-watch.

While this “on-demand” culture offers comfort and convenience, it comes at a hidden cost. Some experts believe that this immediacy mindset is rewiring our brain, diminishing our patience, encouraging impulsive decision-making and conditioning us to prioritise short-term fixes over long-term goals.

Dopamine addiction

If you've ever been frustrated by needing to wait for something, it's probably not your fault. Experts believe that a desire for instant gratification and the pursuit of dopamine – a neurotransmitter and “happy” hormone – is most likely an evolutionary trait. Our ancestors who readily took advantage of immediate rewards were more likely to survive in unpredictable environments where food and resources were scarce.

Sydney-based clinical psychologist and author of The Dopamine Brain, Dr Anastasia Hronis, says, “Smartphones and social media apps are designed to stimulate the brain's reward system and activate dopamine. This occurs with every notification, like and comment. This can create a cycle where someone is constantly seeking ‘more’.”

Whether it's likes and follows, progress bars, rewards, surprise discounts or other gamification elements, many apps stimulate dopamine through creating anticipation of a reward and through offering validation.