COPE.er Method: Combating Digital Addiction via Online Peer Support Groups

Amen Alrobai, Abdullah Algashami, Huseyin Dogan, Tessa Corner, Keith Phalp and Raian Ali
Additional contact information
Amen Alrobai: Department of Information Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
Abdullah Algashami: Faculty of Science and Technology, Bournemouth University, Fern Barrow, Poole BH12 5BB, UK
Huseyin Dogan: Faculty of Science and Technology, Bournemouth University, Fern Barrow, Poole BH12 5BB, UK
Tessa Corner: StreetScene Addiction Recovery, Bournemouth BH1 1QA, UK
Keith Phalp: Faculty of Science and Technology, Bournemouth University, Fern Barrow, Poole BH12 5BB, UK
Raian Ali: Faculty of Science and Technology, Bournemouth University, Fern Barrow, Poole BH12 5BB, UK

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 7, 1-39

Abstract: Digital addiction (hereafter DA) denotes a problematic relationship with technology described by being compulsive, obsessive, impulsive and hasty. New research has identified cases where users’ digital behaviour shows symptoms meeting the clinical criteria of behavioural addiction. The online peer groups approach is one of the strategies to combat addictive behaviours. Unlike other behaviours, intervention and addictive usage can be on the same medium; the online space. This shared medium empowers influence techniques found in peer groups, such as self-monitoring, social surveillance, and personalised feedback, with a higher degree of interactivity, continuity and real-time communication. Social media platforms in general and online peer groups, in particular, have received little guidance as to how software design should take it into account. Careful theoretical understanding of the unique attributes and dynamics of such platforms and their intersection with gamification and persuasive techniques is needed as the ad-hoc design may cause unexpected harm. In this paper, we investigate how to facilitate the design process to ensure a systematic development of this technology. We conducted several qualitative studies including user studies and observational investigations. The primary contribution of this research is twofold: (i) a reference model for designing interactive online platforms to host peer groups and combat DA, (ii) a process model, COPE.er, inspired by the participatory design approach to building Customisable Online Persuasive Ecology by Engineering Rehabilitation strategies for different groups.

Keywords: digital addiction; online peer groups; persuasive social networks; behaviour change; persuasive systems design (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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