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I had an interesting conversation about what gives us that 'dopamine hit' when we buy a new piece of tech. New in this context is 'new to me' as many pieces of tech I buy are used/refurbished and many years old. The person I was talking to just bought a new Ipad and I was helping them set it up. Because I'm not very familiar with how to use Apple's handheld devices I was looking up all the different features the tablet had and was bouncing all these ideas I had for how they could integrated the new device into their day-to-day workflow.
The owner of the actual device was much less enthusiastic about digging into the device's capabilities and just wanted to start downloading apps and get on with it. We started talking about what gets us excited when we get a new device. For them it was the moment of the purchase. The second they have the device in their hands, the rush is gone and it's just another thing they have. There are definitely spikes over the next couple of days while they get used to the new thing, but overall it's mostly just one huge dopamine spike and that's it.
In contrast, I find the dopamine hit I get from a new tech purchase is a gentler rise with a sustained high. In comparison I find the purchase really only gets the ball rolling for me. When I get a new tech plaything, I become absorbed into it for days, sometimes a week or more. I try as many features as I can and immediately start reassessing my entire workflow. I spend a lot of time customizing and personalizing various settings and UI/UX pieces, making the new device feel like I've had it for years.
I think these two different reactions to the acquisition of new tech might play a role in tech longevity as well. For instance, the individual I was talking to buys brand new tech all the time, ready to get the latest piece of tech if there's even just the slightest hint that it'll be an 'upgrade' to what they currently have. On the other hand, I try to squeeze the most out of whatever tech I have and push to keep it running and useful to me as long as possible.
There probably isn't a causal relationship between dopamine hit and long-term tech use, but I think the two are indeed linked. It also has to be said that it also matters whether you actually care about sustainability in tech. If it's something you actively try to practice (as I do) you're probably more inclined to keep things going for longer. As a result you're also probably more interested in the tech itself. If you don't care, then the tech is merely a means to an end rather than an ends in itself.
This short conversation got me thinking about how I experience pleasure and joy in other aspects of my life as well. Though I have this gradual and sustained reaction to new tech, do I feel the same way about new clothes or music? As I've written before, I'm trying to change the way I consume music, removing Spotify and moving to more ethical modes of consumption. I'm also making a concerted effort to be more conscious about where I buy my clothes, whether it's second-hand or from companies that emphasize their sustainable practices. But how do I feel when I acquire these things? Something to think about.
Now excuse me as I climb down from my high horse and seriously contemplate buying a new mechanical keyboard even though I have a new, perfectly functional one sitting on my desk.