The Effects of Dark Design on Children’s Digital Well-Being and Its Implications for Sharenting
Laurel Cook, West Virginia University
Alexa Fox, The University of Akron
Lin Ong, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Claire Bessant, Northumbria University
Pingping Gan, Iowa State University
Mariea Grubbs Hoy, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Emma Nottingham, University of Winchester
Beatriz Pereira, Iowa State University
Stacey Barell Steinberg, University of Florida
Award Amount: $2,500
Abstract:
Online decisions of children and their parents may be influenced by intentionally deceptive user interfaces known as dark design. The attention, time, and information of children garnered by such design practices often go undetected or are discounted by parents and caregivers. Effects on a child’s well-being and safety appear obvious but are not yet understood and empirically tested. Using a multimethod approach, the current research concerns dark design’s influence (1) across mediums (e.g., apps, video games, social media platforms, websites), (2) across age groups for children, and (3) on parents’ sharenting choices, decision-making, and behaviors.