The Hidden Game We All Play
Everyone is a Gamer....Here's Why
You might be wondering, how in the world is everyone a gamer?
Chances are you might not even play any video games, right? Then why am I writing about this particular topic? Did I just clickbait you into opening this article? So many questions in your brain… “slow down, mate”, I will answer everything one by one. And “no,” I didn’t clickbait you. Just give me a few minutes, and I will prove that.
So… let’s say you aren’t a gamer, but… you are. We all are. Not in the “spend 10 hours grinding XP” kind of way, but in the way life itself has been gamified, and guess what the worst part is? We didn’t even realize it.
In our modern society, every single thing has features of video games. Why? Because video games are addictive. And big tech companies love addiction. Whether it’s social media, different e-commerce stores, learning platforms, or fitness apps, the truth is everyone wants a piece of you. They want you to visit their apps every single time you unlock your mobile screen.
Even your workplace plays the game. That "employee of the month" badge? That’s just another leaderboard. Are you seeing a pattern, Neo? They are tricking you into fake hits of dopamine so they can control you and make you work harder for them.
Nonetheless, the real question to be asked at this point is:
“Is gamification making the world better or is it just another tool for control?”
Sure, some different learning platforms use it in a positive way, and we also have fitness apps that push you to stay healthy. But let’s not kid ourselves and snap back to reality. The truth is that the same tactics that make learning fun are also being used to keep you scrolling for hours, buying things you don’t need.
Because here’s the truth: Gamification is powerful. It can turn boring tasks into something fun. But more often than not, it's being used to manipulate you.
But that’s why I’m here: to unplug you from the matrix, to help you focus on what actually matters. My goal today is simple: to break down what gamification really is, its good and bad impacts, and most importantly, how you can take back control of your life. So, with that said, let's start your journey of getting unplugged.
What is Gamification?
Gamification is the process of adding game-like elements to non-game environments. You can think of it as turning everyday activities into a game, but the environment doesn’t let you realize that all this is happening. You might be wondering how they even do all this, right? It’s through a concept called “hooking.”
What is Hooking?
Hooking is basically a system designed to pull you in and keep you there. The system works in a very clever way. It first triggers you with some kind of notification or maybe a streak. After that, you start getting small hits of dopamine, these hits are basically given by providing some kind of reward to users inside the app.
And before you know it, you have already become another pawn of the system. There is a voice inside your brain that doesn’t let you quit the app. And because of this voice? You get stuck in the loop. And guess what the worst part is?
“You think you’re using the app, but the app is actually using you.”
Where Gamification is Controlling You
The next time you are at an airport or train station or wherever you are, at that very moment, you need to take a deep breath and look at the world around you. You will notice something: Everyone is being controlled. They are busy using the devices in their hands, but are they the ones using those devices?
Almost every app that an average Bashir uses has some kind of gamification in it. Take social media apps, for example; they have infinite scrolling and likes to keep the person engaged. We also have different learning apps that track streaks, so you always come back to the app each day.
And that’s not it, we also have fitness apps that give you badges for completing workouts. Even shopping platforms award you with points, so you can come back later, spend on more clothes, and use those points. And this cycle? It never ends.
Now, don’t get me wrong. I know gamification isn’t always bad. Sometimes, it pushes people to do better. There were times when I didn’t want to study, but since I wanted to maintain my streak, I pushed myself to study just to maintain that streak.
But… Here is the catch: more often than not, gamification is not there to help you; it’s there to control you. So, maybe the real question isn’t “What is gamification?” It is:
“Are you playing the game, or is the game playing you?”
The Positive Side of Gamification
Alright, alright… I have probably made you a little paranoid about how different apps are using gamification to control you. And trust me, we will be talking more about that dark side soon enough. But first, let’s talk about the good aspects of this tool. Because the truth is, when used in the right way, gamification can really change your life in a good way.
It might sound weird, but I personally think that gamification isn’t the enemy. It is simply a tool. And like any tool, it depends on how it’s used. Think about it: you have many knives in your house; you can use them to kill somebody or chop vegetables and make pasta. It’s the same with gamification; you can develop bad habits using this tool, or you can use it to learn new things that you always wanted to.
So, that being said, let’s explore some of the places where gamification is actually being used for good.
Education & Learning Platforms
Alright, let’s talk about one of the best use cases of gamification: Education. We all know that learning new things can be boring, especially when there’s no instant reward. But that’s where gamification comes in.
Gamification introduces different levels, streaks, and challenges, which are the reasons why these learning platforms turn the boring process of learning into something engaging. The streaks are amazing at pushing people to stay consistent. The platforms also celebrate your progress, just like a friend does. And all this celebration? It gives you that little dopamine hit every time you complete a module.
I also wanna touch on a specific point with which you will probably be well aware. It’s about the books in most colleges and universities in Pakistan. These books are greyed out and dull, they look like some wizard sucked the soul out of them. The information in these books also isn’t up to date, which is such a horrible thing for learning.
There are no colors, and it feels like you are in a loop of flipping through lifeless pages. But these learning platforms? They are bright, interactive, and visually appealing. And like it or not, colors bring life. They make learning feel less like a chore and more like an experience.
Are you seeing how gamification is transforming learning from something people “have to do” into something they “want to do?”
Health & Fitness Apps
Health and fitness apps are another place where gamification shines as a start. The reality is staying consistent with workouts or meditation isn’t easy. Most people start strong; they have this burning fire in them to conquer the world, but they end up failing the next day. And… that’s where gamification steps in.
Take smartwatches, for example. People don’t just buy them for the time, they buy them because these smartwatches have the ability to turn fitness into a game. Different features like step counters, calorie trackers, and heart rate monitors keep people engaged.
When you use these smartwatches, you get notifications like:
“Congratulations! You just hit your 10,000 steps for the day.”
It might feel insignificant to you, but for the user? It’s a game-changer. Every single time they get such notifications, an achievement on top of it is also unlocked. And what happens when all these achievements and notifications are stacked on top of each other? It becomes addictive.
We also have the streak mechanism, which pushes the users to stay consistent, and the harder the person pushes, the more the streak grows, and this cycle never ends. And that’s the point. The longer you keep up your streak, the harder it is to break. Nobody wants to lose that 30-day workout streak, right?
This is how gamification keeps people hooked but in a way that actually benefits them. It pushes people to build better habits and stay active.
Productivity Tools
Think about Solo Leveling (greatest anime) for a second. The main character, Jin-Woo, is very weak at the start, but he gets access to a gamified interface that tracks his progress, assigns him quests, and rewards him for completing them. And because of that system, he becomes unstoppable.
Now, let’s snap back to reality and apply that here. Isn’t everyone the protagonist of their own story? We all have things we should be doing that include working out, studying, and upskilling ourselves. But most of the time, we lack motivation. And that is where productivity apps come in.
These apps act like a real-life system, just like the one in solo leveling. These apps keep track of your progress, reward you for consistency, and help you push past your limit, just like a true Saiyan.
Imagine if you treated all of your goals like a game and completed them on time. What kind of person would you be right now? Anyway, if you are the kind of person who is lazy and wants to change your life, then you should greet the application named Mr. Productivity because by using it, you can finally say goodbye to Mr. Procrastination.
The Dark Side of Gamification
I have indeed yapped enough about the bright side of gamification. I think it's time to plug you out of the matrix and show you the real world, Neo.
You see… Gamification isn’t just about making things fun, it is also about control. Different social media apps, e-commerce websites, and countless other platforms are designed in a particular way- but what way? In a way that they feed on you, benefit from you.
Every single time you get a notification, whether it’s about the 30-day streak or maybe about how you levelled up in wasting your time. These notifications aren’t there to help you, they are there to keep you engaged so they can extract more time, more energy, and ultimately, more money from you.
Anyway, there is much to cover, so how about we actually get to that part?
E-commerce Manipulation
Have you ever played the famous Daraz 1 Rupee Game? At first, it does look
harmless, it seems like a game in which you can gamble without bearing the risk of losing anything. On top of that, they make you believe that you might actually win something. But here’s the catch: you don’t just play once; you keep getting back on the app in the hope of winning something valuable, and slowly, you get stuck in a never-ending loop of false hopes.
This doesn’t end here. While you are using their app, all kinds of exclusive deals will get thrown in your face. Everywhere your eyeballs look, there are labels like “Buy fast, sale ends tonight!” These labels play a major role in invoking FOMO(fear of missing out) in people, and ultimately, the customer ends up buying something. What a mindblowing marketing strategy, isn’t it?
Social Media Addiction
Oh boy, don’t even want to get started on this one. Snapchat streaks. Instagram likes. Facebook reactions. You might think that these are only features, but they are not. They are hooks that are designed to trap you in an invisible prison.
I’ve seen it with my own eyeballs. A friend of mine, sick in bed, barely able to move, but still making sure his Snapchat streak doesn’t die. And that's the thing: once you are in, breaking free feels impossible. The streak becomes a digital responsibility that controls you more than you control it. Only if people were dedicated this much about their goals… then we might have had a million Bill Gates… pfft.
We also got Instagram; how can I forget about this one? Everyone has their own version of the app. Whether it's the explore page, the ads, or even the reels you see, all of it is customized to manipulate you. And this is not a coincidence.
In 2020, Instagram was sued for allegedly accessing users’ cameras and microphones without permission. They use the data that they collect from you to push targeted ads secretly.
Think about it: how many times have you talked about buying a specific product while your phone was near you, and the next thing you notice is that same product is on your feed?
Different social media platforms are willing to go to any extent to collect your data, just to manipulate you into staying longer. And guess what the worst part is? It’s all wrapped in a gamified system, so you don’t even realize you’re being played.
So, the next time you decide to use your favorite social media app, ask yourself:
“Are you really the one controlling the app?”
Food Delivery Apps
Nowadays, whenever anyone is hungry, they don’t even think twice about opening up their favorite food delivery app. People open apps such as Uber Eats and DoorDash and start to endlessly scroll. There are endless food items that people can order, and at first, it feels like a simple choice, but in reality? It’s not. Sure, using these apps seems convenient, but that’s not all that these apps are built for. These apps are designed to make you order more, again and again.
It’s the same with Foodpanda as well. Ever noticed how they push limited-time discounts or streak-based rewards?
“Order three times this week and unlock a mystery reward!”
Sounds like a really good deal, right? They make you feel like they actually care about you or saving your money. But in reality, what they are actually trying to do is condition you to order more, trying to make spending money feel like some sort of quest.
These platforms are selling you the illusion of control. And behind the scenes, they’re the ones pulling the strings.
How to Stay Aware & Avoid the Traps
Alright, alright, no need to panic or start questioning whether you’re too deep into the system. My goal here wasn’t to make you paranoid. It was to simply wake you up to what’s happening around you. It was to simply unplug you out of the matrix, Neo. And just like anything else, escaping this system isn’t impossible.
There are some steps that one needs to take in order to break free from the system. The first step is awareness. Yes, it might seem nothing big, but the majority of the population is unaware of this; that is why they are trapped in the system in the first place.
The next step is actually taking control, and no, I don't mean throwing your phone in the dustbin and living in the jungle. Once you have completed these 2 steps, then the last step is left. Any guesses as to what that might be? You just need to know when the game is playing you and how to flip the script.
Anyways, I have created enough puzzles, I think it's time for me to start actually unplugging you from the system, Neo.
Recognizing the Trap: Seeing the Strings
So, I am guessing that by the heading name, you already know that, firstly, you need to identify the trap itself because the thing is, once you see it, you can’t unsee it.
You might be wondering, “How does one identify the trap?” Well, you can start off by paying attention to your own behavior. I know many of you out there mindlessly open different apps without thinking. Most of us feel a sudden urge to check notifications while deep down we know that there aren’t any notifications. If this does happen to you, then you should know that you aren’t the only one with whom this happens; it happens to me as well.
But, whenever I personally get such urges, I ask myself some questions: What questions? The following:
- “Do I actually need to open this app, or do I just feel like I have to?”
- “Am I making a choice, or is the app making the choice for me?”
If you start asking yourself these questions as well, then things will start to change for you. Because the sooner a person starts to do that, the sooner he will start to see the patterns, and guess what that ultimately leads to? “Breaking free of these patterns.”
Taking Control: Cutting the Strings
Another major issue that I would like to address is the loss of focus. You see, most people don’t even realize when they’re being pulled into the system. One moment, you’re about to start something important and be productive, and the next, you know that your phone buzzes.
“Notification: Bashir Ahmed sent a reel.”
After you get that notification, you simply hop on to give it a quick check, right? Then, suddenly, you’re knee-deep in doom scrolling, and before you know it, hours are gone, and the cycle repeats every single day.
Now, in order to take back control, you don’t need to throw your phone into the ocean or disappear into the mountains. You can start off by taking small steps. What small steps? Well, for starters, you can just turn on grayscale mode on your phone. It is proven by different studies that turning on grayscale mode makes apps unattractive because everything seems dull without colours.
Other than that, you can also track your screen time using built-in phone settings; that way, you actually see how much time is being snatched away from you by these applications.
Another useful tip that you can implement in your life is that when you plan to do some productive task, you can simply put your phone in a place where you know notification sounds can’t reach you. Or just turn that thing off for a couple of hours.
At the end of the day, your goal shouldn’t be to abandon technology. The goal is to make sure that you’re the one in control, not the other way around.
Mastering the Game: Pulling the Strings Yourself
Just a few minutes ago, we started the topic, and now we are talking about taking control into our own hands. Time surely passes fast. If you did make it this far in the article, then I’m sure you will definitely implement the first two steps I mentioned earlier, which will help you a lot in fighting the demon named “gamification.”
Hold on a second, I am not done yet. There is still one final thing to do, which will surely allow you to pull the strings yourself instead of someone else pulling them for you. So, at this point, you can control your own self by limiting yourself on whether or not and when to use the different applications, but what about using these apps for your own benefit? Wouldn’t it be awesome if, instead of letting them dictate your habits, you become the one in control?
I know… that “controlling apps” might seem cool, but here is the catch. It can only be possible if you are the master of your own will because once you master your ownself, only then you will be able to become the conqueror of these applications, only then you will be able to use these apps to your own benefits, otherwise these apps will just use you till there is nothing left in you to be used.
You see, gamification isn’t itself bad or something, and I mentioned this thing earlier in the article as well. It’s all about how you use it. You can leverage it to build better habits, whether it’s using educational platforms to learn things that challenge you, fitness apps to track your macros and stay healthy, or productivity tools to stay organized. The key is to simply be intentional with your own usage.
“At the end of the day, technology should be working for you, not the other way around.”
Breaking Free from the Game
Look how far you’ve come. When you first started reading, you probably thought this was just another article, maybe even some clickbait trying to sell you on an idea. But now? You can finally see the reality. You’ve been unplugged, Neo.
All the times, when you thought that you were just casually using apps, behind the scenes, you were being controlled in ways you could have never even imagined. You were being hooked into the system by its strategies. But… things are different now because you are aware of how the system works. And more importantly, you know how to fight back.
Today, I tried my best to explain this problem. Unfortunately, I don’t think people care about addressing it; nonetheless, other than explaining the problem, I also gave you the tools to break free. Now, the only thing left to do now, is to actually use those tools to take back the control.
Do keep in mind that Gamification isn’t the enemy; it’s just a system. And you are the one who decides how to play the game.
Would love to hear your thoughts on gamification? Are you affected by it? Or are you all in on the benefits?
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Further Learning
Gamification: What It Is and How It Works (With 8 Examples) | Built In
What is Gamification? How It Works and How to Use It | Definition from TechTarget
Gamification to improve our world: Yu-kai Chou at TEDxLausanne
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