The gamification of investing means everyone loses

For more than two decades, the tech industry has known that adding “gamified” elements to phone or desktop applications can significantly increase engagement, drive success and addiction for many.

Formally known as “digital interaction apps,” these gamified elements have been embedded in a wide range of applications, from those focused on language learning to more cerebral activities such as meditation and even sleep. Most of the time, the impact on users is relatively harmless, but experts warn that the gamification of investment apps in particular is a different story.