Design Frictions on Social Media: Balancing Reduced Mindless Scrolling and User Satisfaction

TL;DR

This study explores how introducing design frictions in social media interfaces can reduce mindless scrolling and improve memory recall, despite some user frustration, offering insights for more mindful platform design.

Contribution

The paper provides empirical evidence that design frictions can enhance memory retention and reduce dissociation on social media, a novel approach to balancing engagement and user well-being.

Findings

Design frictions improve content recall

Participants found frictions frustrating

Frictions can reduce normative dissociation

Abstract

Design features of social media platforms, such as infinite scroll, increase users' likelihood of experiencing normative dissociation -- a mental state of absorption that diminishes self-awareness and disrupts memory. This paper investigates how adding design frictions into the interface of a social media platform reduce mindless scrolling and user satisfaction. We conducted a study with 30 participants and compared their memory recognition of posts in two scenarios: one where participants had to react to each post to access further content and another using an infinite scroll design. Participants who used the design frictions interface exhibited significantly better content recall, although a majority of participants found the interface frustrating. We discuss design recommendations and scenarios where adding design frictions to social media platforms can be beneficial.