On Autonomy and Hooked Nudges for Smartphone Apps

Abstract The “Hooked” model for smartphone app design consists of nudges that aim to induce repeated, habitual application use. Rebecca Zeilstra (2026) argues that these “Hooked nudges” undermine our autonomy by preventing us from being reasons responsive. By leading us to develop a rigid intuitive response to using our smartphone apps, they make it difficult for us to react to the reasons we may have to use them less frequently. In this comment, I build on Zeilstra’s work by highlighting an additional way in which Hooked nudges may undermine our autonomy by threatening our reasons responsiveness. I argue that Hooked nudges may give us reasons for using these apps that we would not have otherwise and that we do not recognize as morally acceptable, but that we nevertheless have a difficult time resisting. I also highlight how Hooked nudges may undermine an alternative dimension of our autonomy, namely our ability to act in accordance with our values and preferences.