Abstract
Digital self-control tools (DSCTs) help people control their time and attention on digital devices, using interventions like distraction blocking or usage tracking. Most studies of DSCTs' effectiveness have focused on whether a single intervention reduces time spent on a single device. In reality, people may require combinations of DSCTs to achieve more subjective goals across multiple devices. We studied how DSCTs can address individual needs of university students (n = 280), using a workshop where students reflect on their goals before exploring relevant tools. At 1-3 month follow-ups, 95% of respondents still used at least one type of DSCT, typically applied across multiple devices, and there was substantial variation in the tool combinations chosen. We observed a large increase in self-reported digital self-control, suggesting that providing a space to articulate goals and self-select appropriate DSCTs is a powerful way to support people who struggle to self-regulate digital device use.
Original language | English |
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Title of host publication | CHI 2024 - Proceedings of the 2024 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Sytems |
Number of pages | 20 |
Publisher | Association for Computing Machinery, Inc. |
Publication date | 2024 |
Article number | 251 |
ISBN (Electronic) | 9798400703300 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2024 |
Event | 2024 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Sytems, CHI 2024 - Hybrid, Honolulu, United States Duration: 11 May 2024 → 16 May 2024 |
Conference
Conference | 2024 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Sytems, CHI 2024 |
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Country/Territory | United States |
City | Hybrid, Honolulu |
Period | 11/05/2024 → 16/05/2024 |
Sponsor | ACM SIGCHI |
Series | Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems - Proceedings |
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Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:© 2024 Copyright held by the owner/author(s)
Keywords
- attention
- digital self-control
- digital wellbeing
- distraction