'I Just Want to Hack Myself to Not Get Distracted': Evaluating Design Interventions for Self-Control on Facebook

TL;DR

This study evaluates simple Facebook UI interventions like goal reminders and newsfeed removal, finding they can improve focus but also have drawbacks, suggesting personalized controls for better digital self-regulation.

Contribution

It introduces and empirically tests two novel interventions—goal reminders and newsfeed removal—to enhance self-control on Facebook among university students.

Findings

Goal reminders improved focus but were often annoying.

Removing newsfeed reduced distraction but caused FOMO.

Personalized controls could further improve self-regulation.

Abstract

Beyond being the world's largest social network, Facebook is for many also one of its greatest sources of digital distraction. For students, problematic use has been associated with negative effects on academic achievement and general wellbeing. To understand what strategies could help users regain control, we investigated how simple interventions to the Facebook UI affect behaviour and perceived control. We assigned 58 university students to one of three interventions: goal reminders, removed newsfeed, or white background (control). We logged use for 6 weeks, applied interventions in the middle weeks, and administered fortnightly surveys. Both goal reminders and removed newsfeed helped participants stay on task and avoid distraction. However, goal reminders were often annoying, and removing the newsfeed made some fear missing out on information. Our findings point to future interventions such as controls for adjusting types and amount of available information, and flexible blocking which matches individual definitions of 'distraction'.