Cell Phone = Junk Food = Slot Machine

Triston Harris is taking the lead on the debate of technologies increasing affect on the human race. Not only do we look at our phones over a 150 times a day we have now become dependent on it, crave, and rely on the sound of our notifications from iMessage, Twitter, Snapchat, and Instagram. Harris is bringing light to people about this concern that no one seems to notice in this generation. The way that Bosker pulls his audience into Harris' light and is able to show them his vision for how our relationship with technology needs to change, urgently.

How does the author hook the intended reader's interest and keep the reader reading?

One of the most intriguing aspects of Bosker's article is his metaphors that he uses for our phones. The first metaphor that he used is a " slot machine in our pocket." This was a way to help the audience understand the effect that getting a notification has on our brain. When we get a notification, dopamine is released in our brain just as it does with a slot machine. The not-knowing of when we are going to be rewarded with a "like" or a coins from a slot machine is what clings us to our phones constantly. Another metaphor that is incorporated in the article is junk food. We are always told that we need to balance on consumption of junk food and that is a perfect analogy for our phones. Technology is not bad and we should not just ditch it all together, but we need to find a balance with it. Both examples help hook the audience and keep them drawn to the message from Harris and Bosker.

Who is the intended audience?

The audience is incredibly broad but Bosker is trying to pull anyone in that exclusively uses their phone. This basically is everyone in America and developed countries. However, I do like that Harris is reaching out to such a broad group of people because his topic is very relevant and many people should hear what he has to say.

What questions does the text address, explicitly or implicitly?

The main goal that Harris wants to portray through a rhetorical question is: How can we become less emotionally depend on technology? He explicitly asks this question and other questions that compliment the main question very well to help the audience better understand his concerns with our concerning connection with our phones.