New project aims to help digital natives adopt healthier mobile habits
A team of researchers will develop an app that can measure and help prevent mobile addiction among Gen Z. SDU is heading the project, which is supported by TrygFonden.
Mobile devices have a way of stealing our attention, and many digital natives – also known as Gen Z – use their mobiles to the extent that it compromises their well-being or can lead to addiction. But what steps can be taken to prevent this issue?
This is the focal point of a new research project in which researchers will investigate how to measure mobile usage and addiction – and help users develop healthier mobile habits.
- Mobile phones are an inevitable part of our everyday lives. We find that for Gen Z, high mobile usage can be addictive. The aim of the project is to develop a solution that not only records how much time users spend on their mobiles, but also measures signs of addiction and provides personalised advice and support to prevent mobile addiction.
This is according to SDU Professor Oliver Schnittka, who is heading the new project, which TrygFonden has supported with DKK 3.5 million.
Focus on behaviour
The research project is interdisciplinary and involves researchers from Social Sciences, Psychology and Computer Science.
The team intend to develop a so-called ‘Smartphone Addiction Meter’, which will be integrated into an app that provides individual recommendations for a more balanced mobile behaviour. The researchers will also test the effectiveness of the app through two field studies featuring 1,500 Gen Z participants.
More about the project
The ‘Preventing GenZ’s smartphone addiction through digital addiction meter apps’ project is supported by TrygFonden with DKK 3.5 million.
The project stems from a growing need to counteract mobile addiction among Gen Z youth. It aligns well with TrygFonden’s Klar til livet (‘Ready for life’) initiative, which focuses on children and young people’s physical and mental health as a prerequisite for a good life.
The four-year project is a collaboration between researchers from the University of Southern Denmark and Aarhus University.
The researchers are:
- Oliver Schnittka, project manager and professor, Department of Business and Sustainability, SDU
- Lotte Vallentin-Holbech, associate professor, Department of Psychology, AU
- Trine Flensborg-Madsen, professor, National Institute of Public Health, SDU
- Maximus Kaos, associate professor, The Maersk Mc Kinney Moller Institute, SDU
- Florian Giardo Lukas, engineer, The Maersk Mc Kinney Moller Institute, SDU
- We hope that the project can make Gen Z more aware of their mobile habits and help them use their mobiles responsibly. The goal is to increase understanding of problematic use, enhance well-being and prevent the potential health and social consequences of overuse, says Oliver Schnittka.
Greater societal impact
The idea is for the app to be easily adopted by society – e.g. by parents installing it on their children’s mobiles or by manufacturers integrating it into new products.
Finally, the researchers hope that the project can provide valuable experience and knowledge on how apps can be used to counteract addiction in other digital environments, such as gaming and online gambling.
Meet the researcher
Oliver Schnittka is a professor at the Department of Business and Sustainability. His research interests include consumer behaviour and branding.