Using design thinking to craft a solution that empowers users to reduce social media dependency
TIMELINE
1 month
MY ROLE
UX Design,
UX Research
TOOLS
CONTEXT
About the project
Social media addiction has become a growing concern in the digital age. Constant notifications, endless scrolling, and algorithm-driven engagement loops keep users hooked, often leading to anxiety, distraction, and loss of productivity. Young adults spend an average of 3 hours per day on social media, the highest of any age group.
(Source: Gallup Poll, 2023)
→ Together, we explore how to help users regain control of their time and attention.
Research
We interviewed 5 young adults about their relationship with social media.
People use social media for different purposes—connection, entertainment, or information—but the same platforms blur these intentions, pulling users into longer sessions than planned.
After realizing how much time they’ve lost, users often feel regret guilt, reinforcing a negative emotional loop that affects their well-being.
Even when users set limits or practice awareness, the addictive design of social media and emotional triggers make it difficult to stop scrolling once they start.
User Persona
After understanding member support agents' insights and common member inquiries, we delved deeper to identify gaps in the existing experience.
User stories
As someone who knows these platforms are engineered to hook me, I want gentle interruptions that help me notice when I’ve been scrolling for too long, so I can regain control without feeling guilt or shame.
As someone who feels guilty after losing hours to my feed, I want a way to better understand my patterns and build healthier habits instead of feeling like I'm failing.
As someone who wants social media to stay light, I want to automatically filter out outrage-bait content, so I can scroll without feeling pulled into negativity.
As someone who hates how every feed feels like propaganda or emotional bait, I want to filter out polarizing content, so my scrolling feels neutral, calm, and actually enjoyable.
Problem Statement
Liam and Dana struggle to regulate their social media use due to how addictive social media can be as well as emotional triggers such as boredom, stress, or loneliness.
They find themselves slipping into unintentional scrolling habits which negatively impact time, focus, and emotional well-being.
Hence, there is a need for interventions that help users sustain mindful engagement with social media, bridging the gap between awareness and consistent behavioral change.
How Might We's
help users regain control over their screen time without making them feel restricted or punished?
help users replace instant gratification of social media with more meaningful and lasting forms of engagement?
Solution
Conscious Scrolling
Helping people use social media with intention, not impulse — through ideas like setting time limits before each session, viewing a recap of the last one, using mindful filters and toggles, or flipping the camera to reflect you as the viewer.
Visual Time Limits
Setting time limits through visual, in-app cues like a micro-stopwatch, daily usage goals, contextual timers, and automatic logs of time spent on each platform.
Habits
Habit forming gamification tactics by introducing brand collabs and rewards, using cute cat pictures, offline alternatives to social media.
Barriers
Creating intentional lockouts by asking users why they want to open the app, tracking their responses over time, and forming behavior patterns before granting access.
Reflections
