IRRESISTIBLE:

The Rise of Addictive Technology and

the Business of Keeping us Hooked
Leah Lohman, Kelley Smith, Tracy Kurtz, Steve Bradbury
Adam Alter

Image retrieved from https://www.psychoftech.org/bio-adam-alter Image retrieved from http://adamalterauthor.com/irresistible

Moment App
● Created by Kevin Holsh
● Tracks daily screen time usage
● Uses data to give you strategies to give you back your “time”
 Google Form: Internet Addiction Test

Click on this link to take the Internet Addiction Test.

Be as honest as you can!

Average Daily Smartphone Screentime: CLASS DATA
Average Daily Smartphone Screentime
Internet Addiction Test
 Internet Addiction Test Reflection
TOTAL RESULT

0-7 No signs of Internet addiction

8-12 Mild Internet addiction

13-20 Moderate Internet addiction

21-25 Severe Internet addiction

The Irresistible Narrative
Connections to Other
Narratives
 Prezi Link
Connection to Toyama: Leah

Connection to Turkle: Tracy

Connection to Postman: Steve

Connection to Wagner: Kelley

Educational and
Technology Application
Importance of Narrative in School
“Our attitude to addictive experiences is largely cultural, and if our
culture makes space for work-free, game-free, screen-free
downtime, we and our children will find it easier to resist the lure
of behavioral addiction” (Alter pp. 319-320).

As educators, how can you make this “space?”

Application to work in school
● Connection between the screen world and the real world

● “Active engagement is better than passive viewing. (Alter,

247)”

● Higher-order thinking
Pros and Cons of Using Screens in School

Pro/Con Padlet

Click on this link and identify a pro and a con for

using screens in the classroom.
How can we utilize screens in our school?
● “...focus on the content of the app rather than the
technology itself.(Alter, p. 247)”

● “...screen-based story should mimic the experience of a

book(Alter, p. 247)”

● “...limiting screen time to two hours per day, even for

teenagers (Alter, p. 245).”
Conclusion
“In its place, we’ll communicate with one another
directly, rather than through devices, and the glow
of these social bonds will leave us richer and
happier than the glow of screens ever could.
(Alter p. 320)”
References
● Alter, A. (2018). Irresistible: The Rise of Addictive Technology and the Business of Keeping Us Hooked. New York: Penguin

Books.

● Moment – Less phone. More life. (n.d.). Retrieved May 5, 2019, from https://inthemoment.io/

● Postman, N. (1995). The end of education: Redefining the value of school. New York: Alfred A. Knopf

● Toyama, K. (2015). Geek heresy: Rescuing social change from the cult of technology. New York: PublicAffairs.

● Turkle, S. (2015). Reclaiming conversation: The power of talk in the digital age. New York: Penguin Press.

● Wagner, T. (2012). Creating innovators: The making of young people who will change the world. New York: Scribner.