Digital Wellbeing : Risk Factors, Design Requirements and Potential for Inoculation-Based Solutions

In a world increasingly reliant on technology, concerns over its potential negative impacts on users’ wellbeing are on the rise. These concerns have sparked a growing demand to promote digital wellbeing (DWB), primarily by addressing problematic internet use (PIU) and emphasizing the role of technology design. In this context, this thesis explores these two core aspects, providing a multifaceted perspective on promoting DWB. The thesis investigates the risk factors of PIU using objectively recorded usage data, emotional intelligence (EI), and demographic factors. It is one of the first studies to rely on objectively measured smartphone usage data. The analysis revealed that the amount of time spent on the smartphone and EI can predict PIU. Further analysis revealed that usage of different categories of apps, EI’s self-control, and happiness phone usage impact PIU. The thesis also tests an experimental attitudinal inoculation intervention to build immunity to online persuasion prevalent in social media (SM) to combat its problematic use.

The analysis revealed a shift in problematic social media use (PSMU) following the active type of inoculation, suggesting its potential as a cost-effective intervention for addressing PSMU. Lastly, in response to the concerns over the potential negative impacts of SM design on DWB, ten DWB design requirements were proposed for services to be included in an alternative model to the data business model. An online survey was conducted to explore users’ willingness to pay (WTP) for these DWB services across Arab and European samples. WTP was used as a proxy measure of the valuation. The findings revealed that a notable proportion of participants were WTP for these services. Findings also revealed that PSMU and the need for cognition significantly impact the WTP. Differences in the relationship between personality traits and sociodemographic on WTP across the two cultures were noted. The findings emphasize the need to prioritize user wellbeing in SM design and underscore the relevance of cultural nuances on digital wellbeing preferences.