# Buddhism, Serotonin And Kurate ## How we might have a shot at disrupting social media addiction / data slavery by empowering humans with ZK tools ### Buddhism All suffering comes from ego Ego as in believing "I am my ego" It's energy draining to take care of the existential fear the ego has (it goddamn well knows as long as the user believes it's a real thing it exists and is important) ### Dopamine and Ego Addiction Addiction cycle: Ego needs validation > dopamine trigger > **anticipation** > reward (more dopamine, stimulated to play again) or punishment (no dopamine, stimulated to play again) > repeat ### Social Media The virtual/digital representation of the ego Data slavery and addiction Confusion on what is one's identity, ego, self and what's real or not Takes a lot of effort securing/validating this ego which triggers the addiction cycle ### Serotonin When letting go of the ego (a festival, devcon, semaphore): dopamine trigger > uncertainty > reward (serotonin) or ...no punishment > satisfaction i gave something without taking giving = the expression of your-self taking = satisfying the ego with dopamine ### Kurate We are ego Be/feel part of something bigger Be rewarded for being a good part of something bigger than yourself There's no ego so no punishment so no addiction Dopamine is still in use for the trigger (because we want people to act) Serotonin delivery is the projected outcome