Tamagotchi effect

The tamagotchi effect is when people become very attached to virtual pets or gadgets that they take care of, as if they were real live animals or objects.

Remember when you had a tamagotchi - a small handheld gadget that had a virtual pet inside? It needed your constant attention - feeding, playing, and even cleaning up after it. You probably felt a sense of responsibility and affection towards it, as if it was a real pet. This is the tamagotchi effect.

The same thing can happen with other gadgets or video games, where you become emotionally attached to them and feel like they're a part of your life. You might even feel a bit sad or upset if something happened to them or if you couldn't play with them for a while.

It's kind of like having a best friend with you all the time, even if they're not really there. But the tamagotchi effect can be a good thing, because it can teach you about responsibility and caring for others, even if they're not real.