Lulu Garcia Navarro

And I'll tell you why I asked this. Because my understanding has always been that addicts cannot control their compulsion. And then addictive behaviors are more habits that can be moderated or controlled. But I think what I'm hearing from you suggests that that's not the right way to think about it.

And I'll tell you why I asked this. Because my understanding has always been that addicts cannot control their compulsion. And then addictive behaviors are more habits that can be moderated or controlled. But I think what I'm hearing from you suggests that that's not the right way to think about it.

And when you're saying it's like a judgment call, is that a judgment that one makes oneself or is that a judgment that someone like you would make if I went to go see you?

And when you're saying it's like a judgment call, is that a judgment that one makes oneself or is that a judgment that someone like you would make if I went to go see you?

So, you know, we've become extremely attached to our phones. And phones do seem to be like the gateway to a lot of these new addictive behaviors. Online sports betting has exploded. Pornography use, as you mentioned, is up, even as actual sex is down. I mean, I was reading a study that said in 2024, Gen Z spent six to seven hours a day scrolling on average.

So, you know, we've become extremely attached to our phones. And phones do seem to be like the gateway to a lot of these new addictive behaviors. Online sports betting has exploded. Pornography use, as you mentioned, is up, even as actual sex is down. I mean, I was reading a study that said in 2024, Gen Z spent six to seven hours a day scrolling on average.

So I guess it seems like it's more a systemic problem than an individual problem.

So I guess it seems like it's more a systemic problem than an individual problem.

You've called this the plenty paradox, right? Which is the more we have, the worse off we are because we're being bombarded all the time with dopamine producing things and that makes us actually feel worse.

You've called this the plenty paradox, right? Which is the more we have, the worse off we are because we're being bombarded all the time with dopamine producing things and that makes us actually feel worse.

Do you see us all as addicts now?

Do you see us all as addicts now?

I mean, you know, you have great authority and expertise on this area, but also you are part of the Anthropocene era and you are a human in this world and also a mother. And I'm just wondering how you navigate this for yourself and for your family.

I mean, you know, you have great authority and expertise on this area, but also you are part of the Anthropocene era and you are a human in this world and also a mother. And I'm just wondering how you navigate this for yourself and for your family.

You didn't even have internet in your home?

You didn't even have internet in your home?

I am going to tell the New York Times that I am just unplugging from the Internet and I don't think it's going to go very well.

I am going to tell the New York Times that I am just unplugging from the Internet and I don't think it's going to go very well.

You know, I'm imagining this beautiful utopia where we have communal spaces where there's no Internet. And obviously you can get that by going out into the wilderness. But the way that our society is moving is that we are now having wearable devices like glasses. There are discussions about implants in our heads. And we have, of course, the rise of artificial intelligence.

You know, I'm imagining this beautiful utopia where we have communal spaces where there's no Internet. And obviously you can get that by going out into the wilderness. But the way that our society is moving is that we are now having wearable devices like glasses. There are discussions about implants in our heads. And we have, of course, the rise of artificial intelligence.