Digital Nudging Towards Sustainability: Exploring Strategies to Encourage Greener Choices Among Adolescent Girls

This study explores the socio-technical dynamics of digital nudging techniques in promoting environmentally friendly snack choices among teenagers. Using a Choice-Based Conjoint Analysis approach, we designed a survey incorporating various snack attributes, including nu- tritional content, packaging, flavor, and traffic light nudges. Four distinct survey variants were created: one without traffic lights, one with a com- plete set of three traffic lights (red, yellow, green), and two featuring only red or green traffic lights. The study involved over 400 adolescent girls aged 14 and 15 presented with different snack scenarios and asked to select their preferred options. Sensitivity analysis was applied to evaluate the reliability of the survey responses. Our findings revealed complex in- teractions between digital nudges and adolescent decision-making, with unexpected outcomes observed in the variant featuring all three traffic lights. These results highlight the critical role of simplicity and clarity in the design of nudging mechanisms, emphasizing the importance of socio-technical considerations in influencing adolescent snack choices. This study provides valuable insights into applying nudging techniques within socio-technical systems, particularly in fostering sustainable behaviors among teenage populations.