The internet transformed the way we get our dopamine fix by bombarding us with constant notifications that cater to our need for validation. Additionally, streaming platforms awakened our binge-watching tendencies, adding to the many digital stimuli that give us a dopamine rush at a faster and more frequent pace. “All of this conditions the brain to expect stimulation at a certain speed, so it tends to go back to the screen to look for that stimulation. And if you don’t get the same level of stimulation, you start feeling demotivated and irritable,” says Sharma.