This week’s must-reads: There is no such thing as a sugar rush

In my work as a behavioral designer, I come across important stories on how psychology influences our behavior. Every week, I share my round-up of the most important stories at the intersection of psychology, technology, and business. I hope you enjoy them!

Habit-forming products for news: What publishers need to know (What’s New In Publishing) The newspaper industry has long mastered the art of habit-forming; after all, they managed to associate the print newspaper with the morning coffee.

We’re told too much screen time hurts our kids. Where’s the evidence?(The Guardian) The authors of a landmark study argue that social media use has only minor effects on wellbeing. But an entire industry says otherwise.

Can the Next Wave of Technology Actually Bring Us Closer? (Vlada) With the help of our technology superpowers, we will soon be able to stop worrying about connection and instead we will simply connect.

How Spotify and other popular apps trick you into doing free labor (Fast Company) Companies are putting you to work for them by encouraging you to feel ownership of their products — without actually giving you any ownership.

There Is No Such Thing as a Sugar Rush (Adam Popescu) Contrary to decades of popular belief, a new study has found that there is no such thing as a sugar rush.

Elementary Education Has Gone Terribly Wrong (The Atlantic)
In the early grades, U.S. schools value reading-comprehension skills over knowledge. The results are devastating, especially for poor kids.

Happy reading!

- Nir