Mindful Media Consumption
Unreel From Doomscrolling
Unreel From Doomscrolling
Unreel From Doomscrolling
Are your thumbs tired from endless scrolling? Mine too..but don't worry, I got you!
Are your thumbs tired from endless scrolling? Mine too..but don't worry, I got you!
Are your thumbs tired from endless scrolling? Mine too..but don't worry, I got you!
tl;dr
tl;dr
tl;dr
Background
Background
Young adults often find themselves trapped in a vicious cycle of mindlessly doomscrolling through Instagram Reels, leading to diminished attention spans and dissociation. To solve this, I conducted research and explored concepts through an iterative design process involving expert insights, business considerations, and user testing.
The final solution harmoniously integrates two key interventions: "Slow Scroll," which gradually decelerates scrolling, and "Public Accountability," displaying usage metrics on profiles to leverage social dynamics in motivating conscious engagement.
Young adults often find themselves trapped in a vicious cycle of mindlessly doomscrolling through Instagram Reels, leading to diminished attention spans and dissociation. To solve this, I conducted research and explored concepts through an iterative design process involving expert insights, business considerations, and user testing.
The final solution harmoniously integrates two key interventions: "Slow Scroll," which gradually decelerates scrolling, and "Public Accountability," displaying usage metrics on profiles to leverage social dynamics in motivating conscious engagement.
Young adults often find themselves trapped in a vicious cycle of mindlessly doomscrolling through Instagram Reels, leading to diminished attention spans and dissociation. To solve this, I conducted research and explored concepts through an iterative design process involving expert insights, business considerations, and user testing.
The final solution harmoniously integrates two key interventions: "Slow Scroll," which gradually decelerates scrolling, and "Public Accountability," displaying usage metrics on profiles to leverage social dynamics in motivating conscious engagement.
Duration
Duration
Duration
Jan 2022 - May 2022 (16 Weeks)
Jan 2022 - May 2022 (16 Weeks)
Jan 2022 - May 2022 (16 Weeks)
Focus
Focus
Focus
Doomscrolling Instagram Reels
Doomscrolling Instagram Reels
Doomscrolling Instagram Reels
My Role
My Role
My Role
Research | Conceptualizing | User Testing | Visual Design | Prototyping
Research | Conceptualizing | User Testing | Visual Design | Prototyping
Research | Conceptualizing | User Testing | Visual Design | Prototyping
This was a solo capstone project ♥️
This was a solo capstone project ♥️
This was a solo capstone project ♥️
The Challenge
The Challenge
The Challenge
To devise mitigation strategies within Instagram to combat reduced attention spans and address the reaction to our irrational side to scroll content on social media.
To devise mitigation strategies within Instagram to combat reduced attention spans and address the reaction to our irrational side to scroll content on social media.
To devise mitigation strategies within Instagram to combat reduced attention spans and address the reaction to our irrational side to scroll content on social media.
Research
Research
Research
Understanding the Problem
Understanding the Problem
Understanding the Problem
The research I conducted was two-fold, combining extensive secondary research involving the thorough examination of academic papers and articles with primary research conducted through in-depth interviews.
The research I conducted was two-fold, combining extensive secondary research involving the thorough examination of academic papers and articles with primary research conducted through in-depth interviews.
The research I conducted was two-fold, combining extensive secondary research involving the thorough examination of academic papers and articles with primary research conducted through in-depth interviews.
What did I find?
What did I find?
What did I find?
Secondary Research
Secondary Research
Secondary Research
2.1 Billion
2.1 Billion
2.1 Billion
Reels are watched by users everyday
Reels are watched by users everyday
Reels are watched by users everyday
40%
40%
40%
of the US online users reported that they felt addicted to social media.
of the US online users reported that they felt addicted to social media.
of the US online users reported that they felt addicted to social media.
Social media is intentionally designed to be addictive and capture user attention.
Social media is intentionally designed to be addictive and capture user attention.
Social media is intentionally designed to be addictive and capture user attention.
The constant dopamine hits make it hard for users to stop scrolling.
The constant dopamine hits make it hard for users to stop scrolling.
The constant dopamine hits make it hard for users to stop scrolling.
Excessive usage has negative impacts on attention spans, productivity & mental wellbeing.
Excessive usage has negative impacts on attention spans, productivity & mental wellbeing.
Excessive usage has negative impacts on attention spans, productivity & mental wellbeing.
What do the gamers have to say?
What do the gamers have to say?
What do the gamers have to say?
User Interviews
User Interviews
User Interviews
Target Users: Young Instagram Users between the age of 20-29 years.
Target Users: Young Instagram Users between the age of 20-29 years.
Target Users: Young Instagram Users between the age of 20-29 years.
What do the experts have to say?
What do the experts have to say?
What do the experts have to say?
Expert Interviews
Expert Interviews
Expert Interviews
After a chat with Social Media experts and Psychologists, I deduced that the most effective ways to #BreakTheLoop are:
After a chat with Social Media experts and Psychologists, I deduced that the most effective ways to #BreakTheLoop are:
After a chat with Social Media experts and Psychologists, I deduced that the most effective ways to #BreakTheLoop are:
Friction
Friction
Friction
Introducing friction points is key to breaking those addictive scrolling loops.
Introducing friction points is key to breaking those addictive scrolling loops.
Introducing friction points is key to breaking those addictive scrolling loops.
Accountability
Accountability
Accountability
Tapping into social accountability dynamics is a great motivator to cultivate healthy habits.
Tapping into social accountability dynamics is a great motivator to cultivate healthy habits.
Tapping into social accountability dynamics is a great motivator to cultivate healthy habits.
Making Sense Of It All
Making Sense Of It All
Making Sense Of It All
To understand the user pain points, I created a User Journey Map of the users while scrolling through Instagram Reels and identifying the opportunity space for my intervention.
To understand the user pain points, I created a User Journey Map of the users while scrolling through Instagram Reels and identifying the opportunity space for my intervention.
To understand the user pain points, I created a User Journey Map of the users while scrolling through Instagram Reels and identifying the opportunity space for my intervention.
Pain Points
Pain Points
The regret users feel when they look up and realize they have spent far more time mindlessly scrolling than they intended.
The regret users feel when they look up and realize they have spent far more time mindlessly scrolling than they intended.
The regret users feel when they look up and realize they have spent far more time mindlessly scrolling than they intended.
Opportunity
Opportunity
There is opportunity to shift that pattern to one of greater self-awareness over one's attention and time by breaking this loop.
There is opportunity to shift that pattern to one of greater self-awareness over one's attention and time by breaking this loop.
There is opportunity to shift that pattern to one of greater self-awareness over one's attention and time by breaking this loop.
My Intervention: Break the
My Intervention: Break the
My Intervention: Break the
loop
loop
loop
loop
loop
loop
loop
loop
loop
loop
loop
loop
Problem Statement
Problem Statement
Problem Statement
"How might we enable users to regulate their doomscrolling behaviors on Instagram Reels?"
"How might we enable users to regulate their doomscrolling behaviors on Instagram Reels?"
"How might we enable users to regulate their doomscrolling behaviors on Instagram Reels?"
What do the experts have to say?
What do the experts have to say?
What do the experts have to say?
Ideation
Ideation
Ideation
Based on the concepts, Friction and Accountability, I had a rush of ideas that could be implemented to break the loop.
Based on the concepts, Friction and Accountability, I had a rush of ideas that could be implemented to break the loop.
Based on the concepts, Friction and Accountability, I had a rush of ideas that could be implemented to break the loop.
#Concept 1: Diversion
#Concept 1: Diversion
#Concept 1: Diversion
Interrupting the endless scrolling of Instagram Reels with a gentle nudge to make platform usage more intentional.
Interrupting the endless scrolling of Instagram Reels with a gentle nudge to make platform usage more intentional.
Interrupting the endless scrolling of Instagram Reels with a gentle nudge to make platform usage more intentional.
Friction
Friction
Friction
#Concept 2: Slow Scroll
#Concept 2: Slow Scroll
#Concept 2: Slow Scroll
Deliberately slowing down the scrolling speed after prolonged usage to prompt users to take a break and increase awareness.
Deliberately slowing down the scrolling speed after prolonged usage to prompt users to take a break and increase awareness.
Deliberately slowing down the scrolling speed after prolonged usage to prompt users to take a break and increase awareness.
Friction
Friction
Friction
#Concept 3: Positive/Negative Reinforcement
#Concept 3: Positive/Negative Reinforcement
#Concept 3: Positive/Negative Reinforcement
Providing tailored prompts based on users' responsiveness to encourage conscious and moderated app usage.
Providing tailored prompts based on users' responsiveness to encourage conscious and moderated app usage.
Providing tailored prompts based on users' responsiveness to encourage conscious and moderated app usage.
Friction
Friction
Friction
#Concept 4: Irrelevant Content
#Concept 4: Irrelevant Content
#Concept 4: Irrelevant Content
Displaying unrelated content to disrupt passive scrolling and encourage reassessment of motivations.
Displaying unrelated content to disrupt passive scrolling and encourage reassessment of motivations.
Displaying unrelated content to disrupt passive scrolling and encourage reassessment of motivations.
Friction
Friction
Friction
#Concept 5: Triggers
#Concept 5: Triggers
#Concept 5: Triggers
Incorporating in-app vibrations, background music, and smartwatch vibrations to break scrolling loops and enhance self-awareness.
Incorporating in-app vibrations, background music, and smartwatch vibrations to break scrolling loops and enhance self-awareness.
Incorporating in-app vibrations, background music, and smartwatch vibrations to break scrolling loops and enhance self-awareness.
Friction
Friction
Friction
#Concept 6: Placeful Phone
#Concept 6: Placeful Phone
#Concept 6: Placeful Phone
Adjusting content and notifications based on context to promote balance between engagement and other aspects of life.
Adjusting content and notifications based on context to promote balance between engagement and other aspects of life.
Adjusting content and notifications based on context to promote balance between engagement and other aspects of life.
Accountability
Accountability
Accountability
#Concept 7: Public Accountability
#Concept 7: Public Accountability
#Concept 7: Public Accountability
Displaying public scoreboard of the app and reel usage to leverage social accountability for moderation.
Displaying public scoreboard of the app and reel usage to leverage social accountability for moderation.
Displaying public scoreboard of the app and reel usage to leverage social accountability for moderation.
Accountability
Accountability
Accountability
#Concept 8: Talking to your Future-Self
#Concept 8: Talking to your Future-Self
#Concept 8: Talking to your Future-Self
Prompting users to consider the future costs of excessive usage through messages from their future selves.
Prompting users to consider the future costs of excessive usage through messages from their future selves.
Prompting users to consider the future costs of excessive usage through messages from their future selves.
Accountability
Accountability
Accountability
What is feasible for Instagram?
What is feasible for Instagram?
What is feasible for Instagram?
Considering Business Goals
Considering Business Goals
Considering Business Goals
These are the key business considerations I took into account:
These are the key business considerations I took into account:
These are the key business considerations I took into account:
Brand Image
Brand Image
Brand Image
When recommending marketing solutions, assessing the potential impact on the brand image and reputation along with accounting for practical feasibility.
When recommending marketing solutions, assessing the potential impact on the brand image and reputation along with accounting for practical feasibility.
When recommending marketing solutions, assessing the potential impact on the brand image and reputation along with accounting for practical feasibility.
Ad Effectiveness
Ad Effectiveness
Ad Effectiveness
Encouraging meaningful interactions and reducing mindless scrolling can improve ad visibility and effectiveness, appealing to advertisers and boosting ad revenue.
Encouraging meaningful interactions and reducing mindless scrolling can improve ad visibility and effectiveness, appealing to advertisers and boosting ad revenue.
Encouraging meaningful interactions and reducing mindless scrolling can improve ad visibility and effectiveness, appealing to advertisers and boosting ad revenue.
After careful consideration of business factors, I refined my concepts further, eliminating #Diversion, and #IrrelevantContent, as they did not align with Instagram's Business Goals.
After careful consideration of business factors, I refined my concepts further, eliminating #Diversion, and #IrrelevantContent, as they did not align with Instagram's Business Goals.
After careful consideration of business factors, I refined my concepts further, eliminating #Diversion, and #IrrelevantContent, as they did not align with Instagram's Business Goals.
Involving the users themselves
Involving the users themselves
Involving the users themselves
Validating Concepts
Validating Concepts
Validating Concepts
Conducting a session of paper prototyping with the potential concepts helped me gain more clarity.
Conducting a session of paper prototyping with the potential concepts helped me gain more clarity.
Conducting a session of paper prototyping with the potential concepts helped me gain more clarity.
Insights from this activity led to excluding #PlacefulPhone, as it resembled the DND feature, and #Future-Self, which required additional steps.
Insights from this activity led to excluding #PlacefulPhone, as it resembled the DND feature, and #Future-Self, which required additional steps.
Insights from this activity led to excluding #PlacefulPhone, as it resembled the DND feature, and #Future-Self, which required additional steps.
Behavior Change Model
Behavior Change Model
Behavior Change Model
To bring about effective change to the users' habits, I borrowed some insights from this amazing paper "Transtheoretical Model For Designing Technologies Supporting An Active Lifestyle" and understand which concepts would most effectively combat doomscrolling.
To bring about effective change to the users' habits, I borrowed some insights from this amazing paper "Transtheoretical Model For Designing Technologies Supporting An Active Lifestyle" and understand which concepts would most effectively combat doomscrolling.
To bring about effective change to the users' habits, I borrowed some insights from this amazing paper "Transtheoretical Model For Designing Technologies Supporting An Active Lifestyle" and understand which concepts would most effectively combat doomscrolling.
Public Accountability aids the Preparation Stage by displaying usage metrics, helping users evaluate readiness and plan reduction strategies.
Public Accountability aids the Preparation Stage by displaying usage metrics, helping users evaluate readiness and plan reduction strategies.
Public Accountability aids the Preparation Stage by displaying usage metrics, helping users evaluate readiness and plan reduction strategies.
Slow Scroll prompts reflection in the Contemplation Stage by slowing scrolling speed, encouraging users to recognize habits and consider change.
Slow Scroll prompts reflection in the Contemplation Stage by slowing scrolling speed, encouraging users to recognize habits and consider change.
Slow Scroll prompts reflection in the Contemplation Stage by slowing scrolling speed, encouraging users to recognize habits and consider change.
Transtheoretical Model mirrors incremental behavior shifts.
Slow Scroll and Public Accountability leverage awareness and accountability to reinforce new behaviors, aligning with the model's core premises.
Transtheoretical Model mirrors incremental behavior shifts.
Slow Scroll and Public Accountability leverage awareness and accountability to reinforce new behaviors, aligning with the model's core premises.
Transtheoretical Model mirrors incremental behavior shifts.
Slow Scroll and Public Accountability leverage awareness and accountability to reinforce new behaviors, aligning with the model's core premises.
The Solution
The Solution
The Solution
Introducing "Unreel"
Introducing "Unreel"
Introducing "Unreel"
Unreel offers a solution for mindful social media usage to take control with:
Slow Scroll, gently reducing scrolling speed.
Public Accountability, featuring user time tracking.
Leaderboards and Badges for healthy competition, promoting positive habits without compromising privacy.
Unreel offers a solution for mindful social media usage to take control with:
Slow Scroll, gently reducing scrolling speed.
Public Accountability, featuring user time tracking.
Leaderboards and Badges for healthy competition, promoting positive habits without compromising privacy.
Unreel offers a solution for mindful social media usage to take control with:
Slow Scroll, gently reducing scrolling speed.
Public Accountability, featuring user time tracking.
Leaderboards and Badges for healthy competition, promoting positive habits without compromising privacy.
Public Accountability Through Daily Usage
Public Accountability Through Daily Usage
Public Accountability Through Daily Usage
Users' daily time spent on Instagram and Reels is displayed to the selected friends, fostering social accountability that can motivate reduced scrolling.
Users' daily time spent on Instagram and Reels is displayed to the selected friends, fostering social accountability that can motivate reduced scrolling.
Users' daily time spent on Instagram and Reels is displayed to the selected friends, fostering social accountability that can motivate reduced scrolling.
#ValueProposition
#ValueProposition
#ValueProposition
This empowers users to be more mindful and accountable of their habits.
This empowers users to be more mindful and accountable of their habits.
This empowers users to be more mindful and accountable of their habits.
Introducing "The Circle"
Introducing "The Circle"
Introducing "The Circle"
Users opt to compete on leaderboards within their chosen "Circle" to achieve the lowest Reels usage time and earn public achievement badges.
Users opt to compete on leaderboards within their chosen "Circle" to achieve the lowest Reels usage time and earn public achievement badges.
Users opt to compete on leaderboards within their chosen "Circle" to achieve the lowest Reels usage time and earn public achievement badges.
#ValueProposition
#ValueProposition
#ValueProposition
This provides motivation to users through friendly competition and recognition.
This provides motivation to users through friendly competition and recognition.
This provides motivation to users through friendly competition and recognition.
Slow Scroll
Slow Scroll
Slow Scroll
After extended scrolling periods, Instagram Reels would intentionally slow down the scrolling speed to introduce friction and prompt reflection on usage.
After extended scrolling periods, Instagram Reels would intentionally slow down the scrolling speed to introduce friction and prompt reflection on usage.
After extended scrolling periods, Instagram Reels would intentionally slow down the scrolling speed to introduce friction and prompt reflection on usage.
#ValueProposition
#ValueProposition
#ValueProposition
This gentle nudge encourages users to take healthy breaks from mindless content consumption.
This gentle nudge encourages users to take healthy breaks from mindless content consumption.
This gentle nudge encourages users to take healthy breaks from mindless content consumption.
Self-Reflection
Self-Reflection
Self-Reflection
While prioritizing user wellbeing, I accounted for potential business impacts to keep the concepts viable for a platform like Instagram. Gamification aligned incentives, gave me an understanding of balancing user needs with commercial considerations.
While prioritizing user wellbeing, I accounted for potential business impacts to keep the concepts viable for a platform like Instagram. Gamification aligned incentives, gave me an understanding of balancing user needs with commercial considerations.
My concepts went through multiple refinement cycles based on feedback from activities like user and expert reviews, usability testing, and peer critiques. This iterative, feedback-driven process greatly influenced and strengthened my final solutions.
My concepts went through multiple refinement cycles based on feedback from activities like user and expert reviews, usability testing, and peer critiques. This iterative, feedback-driven process greatly influenced and strengthened my final solutions.
From an initial wide range of ideas, I aimed to converge on two complementary solutions - Slow Scroll and Public Accountability. This focused yet multi-pronged approach addressed the problem comprehensively without excess complexity.
From an initial wide range of ideas, I aimed to converge on two complementary solutions - Slow Scroll and Public Accountability. This focused yet multi-pronged approach addressed the problem comprehensively without excess complexity.
"Combating doomscrolling isn't about abandoning social media entirely, but rather empowering people to engage with it more consciously and purposefully."
"Combating doomscrolling isn't about abandoning social media entirely, but rather empowering people to engage with it more consciously and purposefully."
