Can We Trust Green Apps? Mapping out 14 Trustworthiness Indicators

Brendan T. Lawson (), Marianna J. Coulentianos and Olivia Mitchell
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Brendan T. Lawson: Department of Communication and Media, Loughborough University, Epinal Way, Loughborough LE11 3TU, UK
Marianna J. Coulentianos: School of Design and Creative Arts, Loughborough University, Loughborough LE11 3TU, UK
Olivia Mitchell: School of Arts, Languages and Cultures, University of Manchester, Oxford Rd, Manchester M13 9PL, UK

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 14, 1-22

Abstract: Green apps have emerged as ways users can engage with climate action, covering ventures that plant trees as users search for information (e.g., Ecosia) through to apps that facilitate behaviour change (e.g., United Nation’s AWorld). But how much can these apps be trusted to facilitate long-term engagement with climate action? Setting our research within the literature on trust, we combine expert interviews (n = 20) with the academic literature to outline 14 trustworthiness indicators. Each indicator provides a clear statement about what makes a green app more or less trustworthy. The indicators are grouped into six core categories: going beyond the app, meaningful collective action, designing the app, accessibility and inequality, data, and organisation. In doing so, our indicators speak to a range of research from multiple disciplines. At the same time, they provide a toolkit for users, practitioners, and academics to critically and productively engage with green apps.

Keywords: apps; climate change; technology; trust (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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