Can Too Much Internet and Social Media Usage Become Destructive?
Are Tinder and Instagram so engaging that they are addictive? There are calls for technology diets to lower our dependence on the Internet.
Website designs try to keep visitors on them for as long as possible; it is the business model. Some people say web developers and designers should design more responsibly, stopping endless scrolling and reducing notifications, however, web designers work for clients who ask for these features. Can you imagine a web designer telling a client they won't build a site if it encourages people to stay on the site for as long as possible?
There is a website, Humane by Design, which encourages web designers to take responsibility for sites which monetize personal information from visitors or monopolize their attention. They want app designers to be respectful of people's attention and limit notifications.
Most Internet users can quit whenever they want, but there are people who have actual additions to social media and the Internet in general. The American Psychological Association does not recognize Internet addiction disorders, but this hasn't stopped researchers from studying emotional attachments to the Internet. They look for signs of people neglecting school, work or personal responsibilities to get online, especially on social media, instead.
Should web designers consider how people will use their product and how it will affect their relationships with family and friends? Normally, web designers consider how people use a website during usability testing to ensure visitors find what they are looking for easily.
If people overshare on social media, this can lead to problems. There are also abusive behaviors with fat shaming and online bullying. It's hard to blame web designers for these behaviors since they happened long before anyone ever heard of the Internet. The Internet just makes it easier for people to engage in behaviors anonymously. For more information click here https://essays.uxdesign.cc/tech-diet/.