Short answer

Designers must actively consider the potential for their creations to foster unhealthy usage patterns and take responsibility for designing more balanced and ethical digital experiences.

Field: Human Factors
Source: New Media & Society (2023)
Method: Conceptual analysis and integration of research from medical-psychiatric fields, critical algorithm studies, and technology ethics.
Evidence: Moderate effect

Problematic Internet Use (PIU) arises from the interplay between individual user behaviors and the design of digital technologies, rather than solely from individual predisposition. This human factors research insight is drawn from a 2023 study published in New Media & Society. Using Conceptual analysis and integration of research from medical-psychiatric fields, critical algorithm studies, and technology ethics., researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Designers must actively consider the potential for their creations to foster unhealthy usage patterns and take responsibility for designing more balanced and ethical digital experiences.

Study

Human FactorsRecentModerate effect

Problematic Internet Use is a Co-Addictive Human-Machine Configuration

Problematic Internet Use (PIU) arises from the interplay between individual user behaviors and the design of digital technologies, rather than solely from individual predisposition.

New Media & Society · 2023

Key Findings

01Problematic Internet Use (PIU) is best understood as a co-addictive configuration, not solely an individual pathology.
02Both individual user characteristics and the design of digital applications contribute to PIU.
03A deterministic view of technology causing addiction is insufficient; a relational perspective is needed.

Application

Design takeaway

Designers must actively consider the potential for their creations to foster unhealthy usage patterns and take responsibility for designing more balanced and ethical digital experiences.

How to apply

When designing any digital interface or application, consider how its features might encourage compulsive use and explore design strategies that promote healthier engagement.

Project actions

01When researching user behavior, consider the technology's role alongside user psychology.
02Critically analyze how design features might influence user engagement and potential for overuse.

Method & Evidence

AimHow can a relational understanding of human-machine configurations inform the design and mitigation of problematic internet use?

MethodConceptual analysis and integration of research from medical-psychiatric fields, critical algorithm studies, and technology ethics.

ProcedureThe research synthesizes existing literature to propose a framework for understanding problematic internet use as a co-addictive configuration, emphasizing the distributed responsibility between users and technology designers.

ContextDigital technology design, user behavior, mental health, and technology ethics.

Variables

IVDesign features of digital technologies (e.g., notification frequency, reward mechanisms, interface complexity).

DVPatterns of user engagement, duration of use, self-reported problematic use.

CVUser demographics, pre-existing psychological conditions, social context.

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

+Integrates multiple disciplinary perspectives (psychology, computer science, ethics).
+Offers a nuanced understanding beyond individualistic explanations.

Limitations

It can be challenging to isolate the impact of design features from individual user predispositions in a real-world setting.

Reliability & validity

The conceptual nature of the paper means direct reliability and validity testing of its core claims would require empirical studies. The validity of its arguments rests on the strength of the synthesis of existing research.

Think critically

To what extent can designers be held responsible for users' problematic technology use, and where does individual agency begin and end?

Design Principles

"Design for responsible engagement by acknowledging the co-addictive nature of human-machine interaction."

This perspective shifts the focus from blaming the user to understanding the reciprocal relationship between humans and their digital environments. Designers and engineers must consider how their design choices contribute to user engagement and potential problematic usage patterns.

What This Means for Your Design

It's not just the person's fault if they use the internet too much; the way websites and apps are designed also plays a big role. Designers and users share the responsibility.

How to use in your project

1.Use this research to frame your understanding of user interaction with your design, especially if it involves digital interfaces or prolonged engagement.

Add to My Project

Quick Cite

Paragraph starter

This research highlights that problematic internet use is a co-addictive configuration, stemming from the interaction between user behavior and technology design. This suggests that design choices significantly influence user engagement and potential for unhealthy habits, necessitating a design approach that considers user well-being alongside functionality and engagement.

Source

New Media & Society

Co-addictive human–machine configurations: Relating critical design and algorithm studies to medical-psychiatric research on “problematic Internet use”

journal · 2023

View source

Questions About This Research

What does the research say about problematic internet use is a co-addictive human-machine configuration?: Designers must actively consider the potential for their creations to foster unhealthy usage patterns and take responsibility for designing more balanced and ethical digital experiences. Evidence: New Media & Society (2023).
Why does "Problematic Internet Use is a Co-Addictive Human-Machine Configuration" matter for design?: This perspective shifts the focus from blaming the user to understanding the reciprocal relationship between humans and their digital environments. Designers and engineers must consider how their design choices contribute to user engagement and potential problematic usage patterns.
How can designers apply this research?: Designers must actively consider the potential for their creations to foster unhealthy usage patterns and take responsibility for designing more balanced and ethical digital experiences.
What were the main findings?: Problematic Internet Use (PIU) is best understood as a co-addictive configuration, not solely an individual pathology.. Both individual user characteristics and the design of digital applications contribute to PIU.. A deterministic view of technology causing addiction is insufficient; a relational perspective is needed.
What research method was used?: Conceptual analysis and integration of research from medical-psychiatric fields, critical algorithm studies, and technology ethics..
How strong is the evidence?: Evidence strength is rated Moderate effect, based on a 2023 journal from New Media & Society.
What should I do differently in my next project?: When designing any digital interface or application, consider how its features might encourage compulsive use and explore design strategies that promote healthier engagement.
What are the limitations?: The conceptual nature of the research means direct empirical testing of the proposed framework requires further investigation.