# Why does endless scrolling feel like a casino?

> Abdul Osama (عبدول أسامة) compares scrolling through reels and stories with a casino experience designed to keep people engaged. His point is to notice where your attention goes and use Ramadan as a chance to pause, reflect, and regain focus.

- By Abdul Osama (عبدول أسامة) — AI, marketing and business, in Arabic
- 5 October 2026
- URL: https://abdulosama.com/en/feed/endless-scrolling-and-attention
- Video: https://abdulosama.com/feed/video/61
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DVLsyIGCHc2/

## Key takeaways

- Abdul compares scrolling with casino design as a way to discuss attention.
- He points to videos that play automatically while you browse.
- His central message is to notice the time spent moving through reels and stories.
- He suggests using Ramadan to pause, reflect, and regain focus.

To regain your attention, Abdul Osama (عبدول أسامة) suggests noticing when you are flipping through reels and stories without a purpose, then taking time to sit with your thoughts. He uses a casino as an analogy for experiences that encourage people to stay longer.

> Your attention is the product. — Abdul Osama

## Why the casino comparison?

Abdul describes a casino without clocks or windows, with steady lighting and carefully chosen sounds. He then turns to the phone: videos start playing as you scroll, and you keep moving through reels and stories. **Autoplay** means a video starts without you pressing play.

| In Abdul’s comparison | What holds attention |
|---|---|
| Casino | Lighting and sounds intended to encourage people to stay and play |
| Video feed | Autoplay and continued scrolling through reels and stories |

This is Abdul’s analogy about attention. The video does not establish that every app operates like a casino or explain why any particular video appears in someone’s feed.

> Maybe Ramadan is a good chance to regain yourself and your focus, and sit with yourself for a while to think. — Abdul Osama

## What can you do next?

Notice when browsing turns into scrolling without a purpose. When it does, consider taking the pause Abdul describes rather than letting the feed fill the moment.

## Questions and answers

### Why does Abdul compare scrolling to a casino?

He compares the cues that keep someone engaged in a casino with features such as autoplay and the ongoing flow of videos.

### What phone feature does he mention?

He mentions videos that begin playing while you scroll, without you manually starting them.

### How does he suggest regaining focus?

He suggests using Ramadan as an opportunity to sit with your thoughts instead of continuing to flip through reels and stories without a purpose.

## Full transcript

مبنى معمول عشان يخليك تنسى وتفضل تايه. مفيش ساعات، مفيش شبابيك، النور ثابت ما بيتغيرش. الممرات كلها لفة بحيث عمرك ما تشوف المخرج. الصوت متصمم بعناية. عملات بتقع، مزيكا، أجراس بتضرب، ناس بتهيص عشان انت فاكرها كسبت. بس مش عشان هي كسبت بجد. لأ عشان صوت المكسب يخليك تفضل تلعب. ده الكازينو. بس اللي انت ما تعرفوش انك جوا دلوقتي. كل ثانية محسوبة. كل فيديو بيطلعلك معروف طلعلك ليه. فيديوهات بتشتغل لوحدها رغم انك بتسكرول بس ومشغلتهاش. دي مش فيتشرز. دي خطة نفسية محكمة متاخدة من صلاة القمار. كازينو النهاردة في ايدك على طول. في جيبك. المواضع الواحد. كل ما تقعد اكتر هم يكسب اكتر. انتباهك هو المنتج. وصاحب اللعبة دايما هو الكسبان. تفضل تقلب في الريلز والستوريز من غير معنى. يمكن رمضان فرصة حلوة انك تستعيد نفسك وتركيزك وتقعد مع نفسك شوية تفكر. ما يباش كل دقيقة مسروقة منك. وزهنك تايه في متاهة مش شايف مخرجها فين. لو حسيت ان الفيديو ده سمع معاك اعمله سيف وبعته لحد محتاج يسمع الكلام ده. انا عبدالقسامة تابعني عشان تعرف كل جديد في الزكاء الصناعي والتسويق. سلام.

---
Transcribed and written up with AI from the video; reviewed on request.