I finally felt I had the tools to control these urges': Empowering Students to Achieve Their Device Use Goals With the Reduce Digital Distraction Workshop

Abstract

Digital self-control tools (DSCTs) help people control their time and attention on digital devices, using interventions like distraction blocking or usage tracking. Most studies of DSCTs’ effectiveness have focused on whether a single intervention reduces time spent on a single device. In reality, people may require combinations of DSCTs to achieve more subjective goals across multiple devices. We studied how DSCTs can address individual needs of university students (n = 280), using a workshop where students reflect on their goals before exploring relevant tools. At 1-3 month follow-ups, 95% of respondents still used at least one type of DSCT, typically applied across multiple devices, and there was substantial variation in the tool combinations chosen. We observed a large increase in self-reported digital self-control, suggesting that providing a space to articulate goals and self-select appropriate DSCTs is a powerful way to support people who struggle to self-regulate digital device use.

Lize Alberts

Doctoral Candidate | Research Fellow

DPhil candidate in Computer Science at the University of Oxford | Research Assistant at the Leverhulme Centre for the Future of Intelligence | Research Fellow at Stellenbosch University’s Unit for the Ethics of Technology