The Dopamine Slot Machine

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 keeps users hooked and delivering it with increasing precision—particularly impacting younger users.

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 getting right, what's missing, and introduces the BrainSafe Standard — a six-dimensional certification framework that asks the structural question rather than the feature-by-feature question. We cover the six dimensions of the BrainSafe Addictive Interface Assessment Framework, share scores from worked assessments of Snapchat, Netflix, Times Tables Rock Stars, and Signal, and explain how businesses can join the 2026 pilot programme. Find the framework and pilot details at https://brainsafestandard.co.uk/, and follow along as we unpack each dimension in depth on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/brainsafestandard/.

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 to smartphones.

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 does not eliminate stranger interaction • The reality of children posting public videos online • Algorithmic feeds, validation loops, and the “dopamine slot machine” effect • Livestreaming and the risks of broadcasting to strangers • Practical steps parents can take if their child is already using the appIf your child has mentioned Coverstar or if you are being told it is “TikTok but safe,” this episode will help you understand what is really going on behind the scenes.

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 learn the four needs these games meet for kids, how to replace them with healthier gaming options, and simple steps to transition your child away from addictive platforms without damaging their relationship with games or friends.If you are a parent wondering “How do I get my child off Fortnite or Roblox?”, this episode gives you a realistic plan. 🎮👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

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/xuiEkaQ4Addictive Design: : 2:30Impact on Life and Education : 6:52Online Predators : 10:25Conclusion 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/czdv3jq1pnyo 

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-48908766Loot boxes: I blew my university savings gaming on Fifahttps://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-53337020How I Quit my FIFA Addictionhttps://www.reddit.com/r/fut/comments/1finb5u/how_i_quit_my_fifa_addiction/

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.

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 gives his view on the "digital literacy" argument that opponents of giving children Smartphone Free Childhoods frequently raise. https://cognitiveresearchjournal.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s41235-021-00301-5

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.

Whilst the rest of the world is talking about parental controls and monitoring, Roblox has decided now is the time to sneak in data led advertising to your kids.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://corp.roblox.com/newsroom/2025/04/roblox-scales-video-ads-partners-with-googlehttps://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c86j9ygw45xohttps://thedopamineslotmachine.co.uk/https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61571236212407

If you don't know what being 'suss' is, then this is the episode for you! Among Us was THE hit of Lockdown, and continues to be popular with children to this day, but what do you need to know about it as a parent?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://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Among_Ushttps://www.innersloth.com/games/among-us/

Celebrating 100 subscribers, we answer the questions you've sent in!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.

In a pushback against recent criticism of Roblox, CEO Dave Baszuki has given parents groundbreaking advice such as "if you're not comfortable, don't let your kids be on Roblox". Let's dive into his claims about the safety of his platform.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 week's episode, Andrew and Brandon dive into Fortnite, the 'free' game earning billions of dollars in revenue, and hundreds of millions in fines for predatory design.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 week's episode, Andrew and Brandon investigate how your choice of gaming device can change how it effects your brain.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 week's episode, Andrew and Brandon tackle one of the biggest problems parents face in video games - microtransactions. Growing from a widely laughed at Horse Armour DLC to the driving force between multi-billion dollar games, if your child is playing video games, someone is trying to sell them Microtransactions.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 week's episode, Andrew takes the opportunity to explore his own relationship with video games, and how it has changed over the years, whilst reflecting on the risks he was exposed to.Andrew, a father of two and lifelong gamer, teams up with Brandon, a consumer psychologist and ex-pro video game coach, to uncover how Roblox hooks young players. They explore its addictive design, in-game currency (Robux), and the potential risks, from overspending to inappropriate content.

The Dopamine Slot Machine podcast, Andrew, a father of two and lifelong gamer, and Brandon, a consumer research psychologist and former professional video game coach, explores the influence of video games on children. This week’s episode delves into Minecraft, the globally popular block-building game that has captivated kids for over a decade.

In this episode of The Dopamine Slot Machine, Andrew and Brandon dive into Roblox, the gaming platform that’s taken the world by storm. With over 80 million daily players and nearly 400 million logging in each month, Roblox isn’t just a game—it’s an entire ecosystem of user-created content.Andrew, a father of two and lifelong gamer, teams up with Brandon, a consumer psychologist and ex-pro video game coach, to uncover how Roblox hooks young players. They explore its addictive design, in-game currency (Robux), and the potential risks, from overspending to inappropriate content

The Dopamine Slot Machine - A Parent's Guide to your Child's First Console 

In the Dopamine Slot Machine, Andrew (Dad of two) and Brandon (consumer research psychologist) talk about the games your children play, and how these games aim to extract attention and money from your children. In this week's episode, we discuss League of Legends, a free Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA).