# In a Q&A, Professor Adam Alter shares insights on technology addiction, from his book, "Irresistible"

1 Faculty News March 21, 2017 ![Thrive Global logo 192 x 144](/sites/default/files/styles/246w/public/assets/images/thrive192x144.jpg?itok=VM17HX75)>

Excerpt from [Thrive Global](https://journal.thriveglobal.com/adam-alter-irresistible-interview-e62d4160d300#.w29a2w6bc) -- "This isn’t addiction in the sense of alcoholism or drugs of abuse, [Alter](http://www.stern.nyu.edu/faculty/bio/adam-alter) explained to Thrive Global. These are dependencies of the media variety, where you keep returning to a software experience that feels good in the short-term but becomes problematic over time. They cut across demographics: the executive relentlessly refreshing her inbox, the teen agonizing over Instagram likes, the college student skipping class to get in one more World of Warcraft quest in."

[Read more](https://journal.thriveglobal.com/adam-alter-irresistible-interview-e62d4160d300#.w29a2w6bc)