Tristan Harris: This thing is a slot machine. Tristan Harris, a former Google product manager But Tristan Harris openly questions the long-term consequences of it all and we think it’s worth putting down your phone to listen. Some programmers call it “brain hacking” and the tech world would probably prefer you didn’t hear about it. He is one of the few tech insiders to publicly acknowledge that the companies responsible for programming your phones are working hard to get you and your family to feel the need to check in constantly. Have you ever wondered if all those people you see staring intently at their smartphones - nearly everywhere, and at all times - are addicted to them? According to a former Google product manager you are about to hear from, Silicon Valley is engineering your phone, apps and social media to get you hooked. The following script is from “Brain Hacking,” which aired on April 9, 2017.