“Streaks”, these awards that make addicted

You have drank a glass less than the daily objective that you had set yourself. Nevertheless, in the evening, this notification on your phone: “We are almost there!” More than 12 cl today. Meanwhile, »» Once the last glass of water is drunk. Nevertheless, you will need to record on the waterllama app on pain of losing your streak -That is to say your “series” of consecutive days of success. Apple Fitness. Duolingo, Snapchat, Bereal, Kindle or Wereward: the applications that keep the accounts of our streaks are multiplying, how to make us come “streaks”, these awards make addicted back every day – and make us feel guilty otherwise. Since when do we take so much importance to this uninterrupted flow of tiny rewards?

Streak is the heir to two principles: the reward for daily connection. the sanction for irregularity, generalized by free games which spread on Facebook from 2007 and finance themselves thanks to microtransactions, the resale of data and advertisements. “The more we will remember. the more you will disclose data that has value for publishers”sums up Julien Pillot, doctor of economics at the University of Nice and specializing in video games.

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