Professional wrestling has nailed how to keep users hooked.
I get bored of things quickly. But I keep watching professional wrestling. Every week. It’s been 10 years. I love watching people grow, change, struggle. It’s designed to keep you wanting more.
It’s fake. I know. It got me through the pandemic.
Fiction is a good way to escape boredom. It takes you on a hero’s journey. That’s what Marvel does. That’s what Star Trek is. That’s what makes you root for Harry Potter. You forget everything else. It’s an art form with a lot of variety and something for everyone. Comedy. Conflict. Action. Tension. Music provides familiarity so you can get back in anytime. It makes me laugh. It makes me cry. It makes me feel a wide range of emotions. It never runs out of stories. Humans crave drama. You’re invested in the characters.
You can never be sure of the outcome.
Unpredictability is the core (variable reward for the product enthusiasts). 3 seconds is all it takes to pull off an upset. It keeps you at the edge. And gives the hope that anyone can do anything.
And that’s the bottom line, ‘cause Stone Cold said so.