Aging Brains and the Appeal of Dumb Phone Games

  • Older people spend significant time playing simple phone games like Drop7
  • Neuroscientist Daniel Levitin explains that as we age, our brains become more inward-focused and less engaged with the external world
  • Gerontology expert Julie Brown suggests older adults play games for emotionally satisfying experiences due to limited opportunities for other activities
  • Playing phone games like Drop7 is seen as a relaxing activity by those who enjoy it

As people age, their brains become more inward-focused and less engaged with the external world, leading them to seek emotionally satisfying experiences. Simple phone games like Drop7 provide a form of relaxation and enjoyment for many older individuals. Gerontology expert Julie Brown suggests that these games fill the gap left by limited opportunities for future-oriented activities such as learning new languages or making friends. For some, playing these games is a way to pass time and feel accomplished.

Factuality Level: 5
Factuality Justification: The article discusses the habits and preferences of older people in terms of technology usage and how they spend their time, including playing phone games like Drop7 instead of engaging in more intellectually stimulating activities such as reading Great Books. It also mentions the opinions of experts in the field of gerontology and neuroscience to provide some insight into why this behavior occurs. While it is anecdotal and somewhat humorous in tone, it does not contain any blatant misinformation or propaganda.
Noise Level: 5
Noise Justification: The article discusses the habits of older people playing phone games instead of engaging in more intellectually stimulating activities like reading or socializing. It provides some insights from experts but is mostly anecdotal and focuses on a specific example rather than exploring the topic in-depth.
Key People: Daniel Levitin (neuroscientist), Julie Brown (associate professor of gerontology at Ohio University), Joel Stein (former columnist for Time and author)

Financial Relevance: No
Financial Markets Impacted: No
Financial Rating Justification: This article discusses the habits and activities of older people, particularly their tendency to play phone games like Drop7 instead of engaging in more intellectually stimulating activities. It does not pertain to financial topics or impact financial markets or companies.
Presence Of Extreme Event: No
Nature Of Extreme Event: No
Impact Rating Of The Extreme Event: No
Extreme Rating Justification: The article discusses personal reflections on aging and gaming habits, but does not mention any extreme events or crises.·
Move Size: No market move size mentioned.
Sector: All
Direction: Neutral
Magnitude: No
Affected Instruments: Stocks

Reported publicly: www.wsj.com