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The “Number Go Up” Addiction

September 2, 2026 · 53 min

Show notes

We’re back! On today’s episode, we go in on the most nefarious marketing tactic developed and that is also causing people a lot of stress… 'Number Go Up' addiction. 


We discuss how counting wins, likes, and even equity, control a lot of our online and everyday life, along with the effects it’s having on us and the world at large. 


To leave us a message on 'Number Go Up' addiction, topics you would like to know about or anything Sidenote by asapSCIENCE, please visit https://www.asapscience.com/chat


For more Sidenote Podcast episodes, check out http://sidenotepodcast.com/


Sources:

https://journals.biologists.com/jeb/article/224/6/jeb218289/237916/Neuroethology-of-number-sense-across-the-animal

https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.1308141110

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9054347/

https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/meta-social-media-harms-settlement-9.7320919

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goodhart%27s_law


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