NPCs in Our Own Lives: Breaking Free from Gamified Control

"Yet for many of us, there's the sense today that we're stuck playing an exhausting game that we didn't opt into." - Bryan Gardiner, MIT Technology Review

Today we're examining a fascinating piece by Bryan Gardiner published in MIT Technology Review on June 13, 2024, titled "How gamification took over the world." This thoughtful analysis explores how a promising idea meant to make life more engaging ended up becoming another tool for control and coercion.

The Psychology of Digital Engagement can transform any area of your life, whether it's personal productivity, health and fitness, or professional development. But only if you're aware of both its potential and its pitfalls.

I've shared previously about the importance of intentional technology adoption. Today we're diving into the hidden psychological mechanisms you must understand when it comes to digital motivation systems.

Are We Playing the Game, or Is the Game Playing Us?

This question is incredibly important because it cuts to the heart of how technology shapes our behavior. When we feel in control of our digital tools, we experience autonomy and empowerment. But often times along the way, we find ourselves unconsciously pulled into systems of artificial achievement. Or maybe we realise we're putting more energy into closing our Apple Watch rings than actually enjoying movement. Maybe we're more focused on maintaining our Duolingo streak than truly learning a language.

And that leaves a lot of well-intentioned people feeling manipulated rather than motivated.

Take a moment to reflect on all the apps and services you use that include some form of points, badges, or achievements.

And as a follow-up to that, consider how many of those "rewards" actually align with your authentic goals and values.

The Rise and Fall of Digital Utopianism

The late 2000s marked a fascinating period of techno-optimism. There was a prevalent belief that technology could solve humanity's greatest challenges. This was especially true for those working at the intersection of gaming and behavioural psychology.

But eventually, every technological revolution reaches a point—whether it's after months or years—when people begin to question its unintended consequences.

Game designers and behavioural scientists do this in other domains as well.

"What if we could make saving the world as engaging as playing World of Warcraft?"

"What if we could transform education by making it more like a video game?"

And one of two things can happen in that moment. Either we critically examine these tools and shape them to serve human flourishing...

Or we allow them to shape us into more predictable, controllable versions of ourselves.

But if you do find that you're constantly chasing digital rewards, it's time to reassess your relationship with these systems.

Your attention and agency are too valuable to outsource to algorithms.

The Behavioral Science Behind the Buttons

This isn't something a lot of people talk about, and yet it's incredibly important. The mechanisms of gamification aren't new—they're rooted in century-old behavioural psychology.

And you might be thinking, "Isn't positive reinforcement a good thing?"

You're not alone. I've spent years studying how digital systems influence human behaviour, and I've seen both the promise and peril of these tools.

About 80% of major apps now include some form of gamification.

What do you have if you don't have awareness of these mechanisms? You become what Ian Bogost calls an "NPC" in your own life—following scripts written by others.

You see, you need to understand that gamification isn't really about making things more fun—it's about making behaviours more predictable and measurable.

Even if some of these tools seem helpful, you have to maintain your autonomy and agency...

When people don't critically examine their relationship with gamified systems, they become reactive rather than proactive, instead of thoughtfully choosing their actions and motivations.

And they make three common mistakes:

1. Confusing extrinsic rewards for intrinsic motivation
2. Prioritising measurable metrics over meaningful progress
3. Letting artificial urgency override authentic timing

Reclaiming Your Agency

So, what can you do?

First, conduct a digital motivation audit. List all the apps and services you use that include gamification elements. For each one, ask:

• What behaviour is this system trying to encourage?
• Does this align with my authentic goals?
• Am I engaging with this tool consciously or compulsively?
• How would I approach this activity without the gamification layer?

This allows you to maintain awareness while engaging with helpful tools. And it helps you identify which systems might be more manipulative than motivating.

The Power of Intrinsic Motivation

And another option you might consider is developing stronger intrinsic motivation systems.

This option allows you to maintain long-term engagement but also preserves your autonomy.

Research shows that intrinsic motivation—doing things because they're inherently rewarding—leads to better outcomes and greater satisfaction than extrinsic motivation systems.

This might not be the right choice for everyone, but in my own journey away from gamified productivity apps, I've found deeper satisfaction in setting my own pace and metrics.

As a researcher in this space, you gain clarity about your true motivations, can design better systems for others, and maintain your psychological freedom.

We spend so much of our lives interacting with digital systems; we owe it to ourselves to ask the right questions like...

What truly motivates me beyond points and badges?

How can I design my digital environment to support rather than override my agency?

What would it look like to engage with technology more intentionally?

Whether you're already aware of these dynamics or just beginning to examine them, developing digital literacy is something everyone should have.

It's about reclaiming your attention and agency.

Phil

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