A Digital Nudge-Based Intervention to Interrupt Instagram Usage

Abstract: Background: Overuse of smartphones can have harmful health effects. Patricularly, overuse of social media apps are related to problematic forms of smartphone use because individuals find it difficult to finish their smartphone session (e.g., on Instagram). Aims: This randomized controlled pilot study aims at examining effects and intervention characteristics of a digital nudge-based intervention aiming to interrupt Instagram usage. Method: A total of 70 Instagram users (47% female; M age : 31 years) were enrolled and randomly assigned to the intervention ( n = 33) or control group ( n = 37). Across 14 days, the intervention group received notifications from a pool of 80 messages (e.g., stimulating reflection on smartphone use), whenever Instagram was used for 3 minutes. Self-reported problematic smartphone use as well as time of overall smartphone use and Instagram use were assessed via five weekly online questionnaires. Results: The longitudinal sample comprised 40 participants. Significant reductions in self-reported problematic smartphone use were observed in both groups, but no significant changes were found for the time of smartphone and Instagram use. The intervention had a minor relevance for six participants who received less than 7 notifications across 14 days. For 17 participants, the number of notifications ranged between 12 and 139, with a median duration of closing Instagram after 6:44 minutes (range: 1:06 to 23:47 minutes). Limitations: A small convenience sample was investigated and findings do not generalize to the general population. Conclusion: High interindividual differences were found in how the intervention worked providing insights for future nudge-based interventions.