DoorDash
DoorDash surfaces restaurant recommendations when you open it, but the primary use is ordering from a specific place. The browse layer is the engagement surface; the ordering flow has natural completion.
Why this score
The home screen is algorithmically ranked restaurants and deals. Push notifications for promotions and re-order suggestions are on by default.
DashPass and promotional offers create incentives to order more frequently.
The breakdown
- Attention Capture4.0
Mechanics designed to keep you in the app right now — infinite scroll, autoplay, variable rewards, and reactive swipe-tap loops.
- Habit Formation4.0
Mechanics designed to bring you back — streak coercion, default push notifications, and re-engagement of dormant users.
- Social Pressure1.0
How much the experience exploits social psychology — public metrics, profile curation, and status comparison against others.
- Time Theft3.0
Mechanics that steal more time than you intended to give — no stopping cues, short units, and 'just one more' loops.
- Cognitive Erosion2.0
Mechanics that replace your independent thinking, memory, or judgment — creating dependency on the tool to function.
- Cognitive Nourishment1.0
Whether the app actively strengthens your ability to think for yourself. Shown on the label, but it does not affect the score.
Recommended usage
Know what you want before opening. The restaurant browse is designed to turn a quick order into a discovery session.