Irresistible: The Rise of Addictive Technology and the Business of Keeping Us Hooked

Placeholder author icon
By Adam Alter *09

Published Jan. 4, 2017

It has been known for years that humans are prone to substance addictions, but only recently has behavioral addiction come to the fore. Adam Alter *09, a professor of psychology and marketing at NYU, is at the cutting edge of this burgeoning field, just as addictions to mobile devices, social media, and streaming television are on the rise. Irresistible (Penguin) explores not just a history of our understanding of addiction but outlines the options we have to address the problem before it consumes us.

Paw in print

Image
PAW's July/August 2025 issue cover, featuring a photo of people dressed in orange and black, marching in the P-rade, and the headline: Reunions, Back in Orange & Black.
The Latest Issue

July 2025

On the cover: Wilton Virgo ’00 and his classmates celebrate during the P-rade.