The Fine Line Between Persuasion and Digital Addiction

Abstract

Digital addiction is becoming a prevalent societal concern and persuasive design techniques used in digital platforms might be accountable also for the development and maintenance of such problematic behavior. This paper theoretically analyses the relationship between persuasive system design principles and digital addiction in light of theories on behavioral and substance-based addictions. The findings suggest that some of the persuasive design principles, in specific contexts, may trigger and expedite digital addiction. The purpose of this paper is to open a discussion around the potential effects of persuasive technology on digital addiction and cater to this risk in the design processes and the persuasive design itself.

Explainable persuasion for interactive design: The case of online gambling

“…The cards also provided information on the risks of interacting with the persuasion technique, which was adopted from the informed consent theory (Faden and Beauchamp, 1986). The information on how the persuasive design technique could facilitate problem gambling was based on the findings of previous research (Cemiloglu et al, 2021b). One example of a persuasive design technique explanation card is shown in Fig.…”

“…Some elements can trigger irresistible urges and increase perceived urgency and pressure (Alrobai et al, 2014;Ali et al, 2015;Kuonanoja and Oinas-Kukkonen, 2018). For example, the use of rewards on digital platforms may encourage people to place more importance on the positive experience felt in the moment and make it hard to reflect on negative consequences that they may face in the future regarding excessive use (Cemiloglu et al, 2021b). While different approaches are taken to discuss the role of ethics in persuasive technology, transparency and user voluntariness were suggested to be important factors in building ethical persuasive interfaces (Atkinson, 2006;Smids, 2012;Barral et al, 2014;Timmer et al, 2015).…”

Online silence: why do people not challenge others when posting misinformation?

“…We suggest that future studies expand upon this initial foundation by refining them into sub-factors, investigating other factors that influence the decision not to challenge, and studying whether there are dependencies amongst them. In addition, social (Zhu et al 2017;Wu et al 2020b;Cemiloglu et al 2021). Future research should investigate such reasons through primary studies.…”

“…media design can arguably introduce biases(Cemiloglu et al 2021), encourage conformity and hinder individual voices that can challenge what is perceived to be standard behaviour…”

Social+Me: a persuasive application to increase communication between students and their support networks in Southern Chile

“…Some applications incorporate persuasive design principles that increase smartphone use and addictive behaviors ( Chen, 2021 ). There is therefore a fine line between persuasive systems and digital addiction ( Cemiloglu et al, 2021 ). The goal of the present work is to persuade university students who might be feeling disconnected from their support networks to keep in touch with them, but we acknowledge that this goal requires treading carefully since increasing smartphone use overall may be associated with negative effects such as smartphone and social media overuse or addiction.…”