This is what drugs and alcohol can become if not used in moderation.

Once we have the AI holodeck (the full-sensory interactive, possibly multiplayer one), can you only imagine?

TikTok is only the punch card phase of this. TikTok may as well be black and white television. Just imagine what we might have in twenty years.

Maybe this is why we haven't found alien life. If their biologies have attention mechanisms like ours, maybe they automate highs and turn inward instead of outward. (I do like that better than AGI gray goo taking over galaxies.)

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Liftyee 6 hours ago | parent [-]

Agreed, AI/VR definitely offers nightmarish opportunities.

At least drugs/alcohol are self limiting: you have to meet your dealer, go to a store, eventually run out of money...

TikTok/Reels/Shorts are free, infinite, and in your pocket on a device you're now forced to use in daily life (bank/2fa/messaging apps).

	▲	echelon 5 hours ago \| parent [-]
		> a device you're now forced to use in daily life (bank/2fa/messaging apps). Restaurants with only QR code menus. "Let me scan your LinkedIn app." Verify your government ID on our app. "Zelle me." "Scan this code to pay." My favorite: "Scan this code for parking or you will be towed. Also, if you leave without paying, we'll tow you next time you enter any of our properties in any state because we scanned your license plate." There's no other way to pay. Apartment / condo door keys and entry systems. My battery is always at 10%. I don't know how y'all do it. This is also one of the many reasons why I think it's criminal that two private businesses are allowed to own this modern life necessity so completely.