Remote Triggers: Misophonia, Technology Non-Use, and Design for Inclusive Digital Spaces

TL;DR

This paper explores how misophonia affects technology use and proposes design solutions like audio-visual controls and trigger detection to foster inclusive digital spaces for affected individuals.

Contribution

It provides empirical insights from interviews on misophonia's impact on digital interaction and introduces novel design interventions for inclusive technology.

Findings

Misophonia causes distress during virtual interactions.

Users employ coping strategies like content avoidance.

Design proposals include trigger detection and customizable controls.

Abstract

Misophonia, characterized by intense negative reactions to specific sounds or related visual cues, remains poorly recognized in clinical settings yet profoundly affects daily life. This study examines how individuals with misophonia experience and sometimes avoid technology that amplifies their triggers. Drawing on 16 semi-structured interviews with U.S. adults recruited from online communities, we explore how social media platforms such as TikTok and Instagram, along with remote communication tools like Zoom and Discord, shape coping strategies and patterns of non-use. Participants described frequent distress from uncontrollable audiovisual content and food-related behaviors during virtual gatherings. We propose design interventions -- including channel-specific audio-visual controls, real-time trigger detection, and shared preference tools -- to better support misophonic users and reduce exclusion in increasingly mediated social and professional contexts.