Ever found yourself opening your phone, checking the same three apps, finding absolutely nothing interesting, putting the phone down, then picking it up again thirty seconds later? Of course you have. We all have. The strange thing is that most people know they are doing it. They know the next scroll probably won’t change their…

Most people think their phone is just a tool. A communication device. A bit of entertainment. Something useful to have nearby. But modern phones do something far more powerful than most people realise. They train behaviour. Quietly. Repeatedly. Constantly. Every notification, vibration, badge icon, swipe, refresh and short-form hit of novelty teaches your brain something.…