The Dopamine Slot Machine

Disney's massive investment in Fortnite isn't just a business story — it's a parenting story. In this episode we break down what the Disney/Epic deal actually means for kids: how Fortnite has evolved from a game with cosmetic skins into a cross-platform Disney engagement machine, why the creator economy is engineered around attention and spending, what makes experiences like Star Wars Droid Tycoon...

Andrew reads out a chapter from his in progress book on the history of addictive design, going back to the Arcade and the seaside amusements. 

The school holidays take down every fence that term time builds around gaming, and the companies behind your child's favourite games plan for those six weeks the way supermarkets plan for Christmas.  This year that means a Fortnite battle pass that runs out on the 19th of August and a summer event in Grow a Garden, now the biggest game on Roblox, with a reward that asks for attendance six day...

Snapchat has built an empire on engineered social obligation — and the Streak is the load-bearing wall. In this episode, Andrew applies the BrainSafe Addictive Interface Assessment Framework to Snapchat, dimension by dimension, and explains why a bilateral, irreversible, public daily obligation counter aimed at adolescents is one of the most concerning design patterns in mainstream consumer techno...

This episode uses the BrainSafe framework to break down how TikTok’s design drives engagement, focusing on its opaque algorithm, highly personalised “slot machine”-style content feed, lack of natural stopping points, and subtle friction that makes disengaging harder than starting. It argues that while social features play a role, the platform’s core pull is algorithmic, continuously learning what...

The UK government has finally named the problem — Keir Starmer's crackdown on infinite scroll and autoplay is the most concrete UK action on addictive design we've ever seen. But naming features is whack-a-mole: ban infinite scroll today, and the platforms ship something functionally equivalent under a different name tomorrow.  In this episode, Andrew walks through what the government's getti...

In the latest episode of The Dopamine Slot Machine , host Andrew interviews Pete Clifford, founder of Karri, about their innovative screen-free messenger device designed for children aged 5-11.  The Karri enables asynchronous voice messaging between kids and parents or approved friends via a 5G network, without apps, scrolling, phone numbers, or stranger access, offering a safer alternative t...

This week on The Dopamine Slot Machine , Andrew takes a look at Coverstar , an app often marketed as a safer alternative to TikTok for kids . But how safe is it really? In this episode we break down how Coverstar works, why short-form video platforms are so addictive by design, and the risks parents should understand before letting their children use it. We discuss: • Why removing direct messages...

Many parents regret letting their kids start playing Fortnite or Roblox, but stepping back does not have to mean constant arguments. In this episode of The Dopamine Slot Machine , Andrew, a dad of two and lifelong gamer, explains why these games are designed to hook children, how they function as social spaces and boredom traps, and how parents can remove them in a healthy, practical way. You will...

Keir Starmer Announces Addictive Design Restrictions - but will it make a safer internet?

Andrew deconstructs the claim that there is no evidence that social media harms children, looking at a widely reported on study from the University of Manchester. 

Andrew discussed the proposals for age restrictions on social media that would aim to stop U16s accessing social media, and makes an exciting announcement for https://thedopamineslotmachine.co.uk/. 

Script  : https://pastebin.com/xuiEkaQ4 Addictive Design: : 2:30 Impact on Life and Education : 6:52 Online Predators : 10:25 Conclusion 12:25

Why has gaming not had its Bluey Moment?

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-dopamine-slot-machine-reviews-your-christmas-list-games-tickets-1969404096668

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-dopamine-slot-machine-reviews-your-christmas-list-games-tickets-1969404096668 

How Games Companies Get, and Use, your Child's Data 

How your Child will beat the UK Porn Block

Andrew, a father of two and lifelong gamer, teams up with Brandon, a consumer psychologist and ex-pro video game coach, to cover video games, the way they are designed and how these design decisions impact the children that play them.

Andrew, a father of two and lifelong gamer, teams up with Brandon, a consumer psychologist and ex-pro video game coach, to cover video games, the way they are designed and how these design decisions impact the children that play them.

Andrew, a father of two and lifelong gamer, teams up with Brandon, a consumer psychologist and ex-pro video game coach, to cover video games, the way they are designed and how these design decisions impact the children that play them. https://www.change.org/p/we-ask-our-prime-minister-to-request-an-urgent-review-of-mobile-phones-in-schools-guidance  https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/czdv3jq...

Andrew, a father of two and lifelong gamer, teams up with Brandon, a consumer psychologist and ex-pro video game coach, to cover video games, the way they are designed and how these design decisions impact the children that play them. https://www.polygon.com/features/602800/gambling-video-games-balatro-luck-be-a-landlord

Andrew, a father of two and lifelong gamer, teams up with Brandon, a consumer psychologist and ex-pro video game coach, to cover video games, the way they are designed and how these design decisions impact the children that play them..

Andrew, a father of two and lifelong gamer, teams up with Brandon, a consumer psychologist and ex-pro video game coach, to cover video games, the way they are designed and how these design decisions impact the children that play them. 'The kids emptied our bank account playing Fifa' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-48908766 Loot boxes: I blew my university savings gaming on Fifa https://www.b...

Andrew, a father of two and lifelong gamer, teams up with Brandon, a consumer psychologist and ex-pro video game coach, to cover video games, the way they are designed and how these design decisions impact the children that play them. In this solo episode, Andrew goes over a handful of positive examples of games, and what makes them better choices for children.