The So-called “dopamine sites”, where you can experience the entire online shopping experience without actually buying or receiving anything, have become a trend among young people, especially in South Korea.
The expression has gained popularity on the internet to describe websites or applications that simulate purchases, providing a feeling of reward by allowing the user to browse products and click the “buy” button, without there being any financial transaction or actual delivery.
The trend recently emerged in South Korea, where many young people started using platforms that reproduce everyday experiences virtually.
One of the most popular examples is FoodNeverComes, a fictional food delivery website. Here, users can explore restaurants, add dishes to their cart and even follow a virtual delivery person. However, as the name suggests, the food never arrives.
FoodNeverComes was created by a South Korean developer named Malhee, who explained to Fast Company magazine that the idea came to him “on one of those nights where I kept opening and closing delivery apps over and over again.”
“It started as a joke, but, surprisingly, just satisfying that urge to ‘order something’ gave me a strangely rewarding feeling, even without completing the order,” he said.
“Everyone is like that these days, aren’t they? Not because they’re hungry, but out of habit or boredom. The hand simply opens the delivery app first. This app was created to break that pattern, for once,” he added.
According to him, the platform is aimed at anyone who wants to reduce their use of delivery apps, is on a diet or is just curious to try something different.
In addition to shopping and food ordering simulators, there are other types of “dopamine sites” that offer experiences such as virtual smoke breaks with strangers or participating in simulated social activities.
What is dopamine?
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter produced by the brain that plays a fundamental role in regulating motivation, learning and reward mechanisms.
Although it is often associated with pleasure, its main function is related to the anticipation of rewards and the impulse to repeat behaviors considered rewarding. Dopamine is activated, for example, when we achieve positive results or when we expect pleasant experiences, functioning as an important engine for our actions and habits.
Source: www.noticiasaominuto.com.br
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