I've been thinking about the 'topsoil' essay Marcus wrote. It makes me wonder if our UI paradigms (infinite scroll, pull to refresh) are inherently unethical. If an interface exploits a biological loophole, does the designer share moral culpability?
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Chat in Algorithmic Society
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Responses
D
David Chen
6/9/2026
Absolutely. We regulate slot machines because they exploit dopamine loops. Social feeds use the exact same variable-reward schedule.
M
Marcus Trent
6/9/2026
But where do you draw the line? Is a cliffhanger at the end of a novel 'unethical' because it manipulates your desire for closure?