You're looking at this in a binary way but there's a spectrum of addictiveness. Some things are a little bit addictive, some things are more addictive, and some things are intentionally designed to be addictive.
Sure, there's some individual out there who spends 8 hours a day on HN and is completely addicted to it. But there are a much larger porportion of users on other platforms that are at that high level of addiction, because those platforms are designed to be addictive.
Scrolling apps don't want you to leave. Ever. In contrast, HN stops you from commenting if you keep doing it too fast.
Quick-access video and audio is particularly psycologically impactful.
Sure, there's some individual out there who spends 8 hours a day on HN and is completely addicted to it. But there are a much larger porportion of users on other platforms that are at that high level of addiction, because those platforms are designed to be addictive.
Scrolling apps don't want you to leave. Ever. In contrast, HN stops you from commenting if you keep doing it too fast.
Quick-access video and audio is particularly psycologically impactful.