Do Dopamine Sites Work? Are They Addictive? What We Know

The short answer: there is no study yet

So far there is no published research measuring the effect of a dopamine site, or dopamine app, on spending, anxiety or habits. The category became a topic in 2026, and serious studies take time between the idea, the data collection and the publication. Anyone who says for certain that these sites "work" or "are addictive" is giving an opinion, not reporting a result.

That applies to us too. SemFood is a food delivery simulator built to entertain: you order food without paying, follow the courier on the map, and nothing is charged or delivered. We have no data proving it reduces anyone's spending, so we do not promise that.

What exists are expert opinions and research on similar products. It is worth knowing both, and knowing what each can and cannot say.

What the experts say

The opinions published in the press point in different directions. A psychologist quoted by the Brazilian paper Correio Braziliense warned that simulating a purchase can reinforce the very behavior pattern a person wants to change instead of weakening it: the ritual keeps being practiced, even without the bill.

A professor cited by IBTimes called these apps a stopgap: they may relieve the urge in the moment, but they do not touch the reason someone wants to shop or order. It is a moderate criticism, not saying they do harm, only that they do not solve anything.

Gary Mortimer, a professor at QUT (Queensland University of Technology) in Australia, pointed to studies of social casinos, casino-style games played with worthless chips, where some players end up moving to betting with real money. He himself acknowledged that specific research on pretend shopping is lacking, so the comparison is a warning, not a conclusion.

Notice that none of the three says the simulator harms everyone, or that it fixes anything. They point at possible risks and likely limits. Anyone who guarantees more than that, in either direction, is going beyond what is known.

Anticipation and reward, without exaggeration

The name "dopamine" is a pop culture metaphor, not a diagnosis. The popular idea behind it is simple: a good part of the pleasure of ordering food is in the anticipation (choosing, building the cart, waiting for the courier), not only in eating. A simulator delivers the anticipation and cuts the rest.

From that comes the argument in favor: if what you wanted was the ritual, the ritual may be enough. And the argument against: if what you want is to eat, or to soothe a feeling, staging the order does not fill the gap and may even leave the urge more switched on.

Both things are likely to happen, with different people and on different days. So the useful question is not "does it work?" but "does it work for me?", and only you can answer that by paying attention. The article on the game of ordering food goes into why the ritual feels so good.

How to use one with your feet on the ground

Notice what comes next. After a pretend order, did the urge fade, or did you open a real delivery app right after? If the second happens often, the simulator is working as a warm-up, not a substitute.

Measure your real spending, not the feeling. Write down what you spend on real delivery before you start and check again after a month. The delivery spending calculator does the monthly and yearly math with your own numbers; it is a personal measurement, not a study, but it beats a hunch.

Treat it as entertainment. A dopamine app is a pastime, like a game. If it starts taking too much time, causing guilt or coming alongside more real spending, stop and reassess.

Make rules with yourself. For example: use the simulator on nights when you have decided not to order for real, and not on the others. A simple rule makes it clear whether the pretend order is replacing the real one or only adding to it.

Know where the line is. If the urge to order or shop already causes debt or distress, no app is the right tool. The guide when ordering food becomes a problem covers the signs and where to look for support.

What SemFood promises, and what it does not

SemFood promises one thing: the experience of ordering delivery with realism, from the menu to the courier arriving, with no charge for the food and no delivery. It does not promise to treat compulsive behavior, reduce anxiety or improve your health, because there is no basis for that and because an app is not a substitute for professional help.

If you want to see the pretend order from the inside, how it works shows each step. To understand the whole category, start with the guide what is a dopamine app.