Is life brighter when your phone is not? The efficacy of a grayscale smartphone intervention addressing digital well-being

Bibliographic Data

ID13012012
AuthorsC Dekker (0000-0003-2269-224X, University of Amsterdam, corresponding author), Susanne E Baumgartner (0000-0001-6031-8836, University of Amsterdam)
Year2023
Volume12
Issue3
Pages688-708
Publication date2023-11-09
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueMobile Media & Communication (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2050-1579 • E-ISSN: 2050-1587
PublisherSAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/20501579231212062
OpenAlexW4388538921
LanguageEN
Citations received11
References cited61

In response to the growing public concern about digital well-being, many tools have been developed for individuals to reduce their screen time. An understudied but promising self-nudge intervention is turning off smartphone screen colors (i.e., grayscaling). Since a grayscale setting is available on all smartphones, it has the potential to be an easily implemented intervention. The main aim of the current study was to assess the efficacy of a grayscale intervention by addressing its effects on both objective smartphone behavior as well as on daily subjective indicators of digital well-being. Participants’ smartphone use was tracked for 2 weeks ( N = 84). The first week served as a baseline measure, followed by a 1-week grayscale intervention. Findings indicate that daily screen time was significantly reduced by 20 min, yet the daily number of phone unlocks did not change, suggesting deep-rooted checking habits. Moreover, grayscaling improved perceived control over one's smartphone use, and reduced perceived overuse, online vigilance, and stress, but did not affect productivity or sleep quality. Overall, findings indicate that grayscaling is an effective strategy to reduce screen time and improve digital well-being

Affect (linguistics · Cognitive psychology · Distraction · Grayscale · Intervention (counseling · Mobile phone · Multimedia · Phone · Applied Psychology · Communication · Computer Science · Impact of Technology on Adolescents · Innovative Human-Technology Interaction · Psychology · Technology Adoption and User Behaviour · Artificial Intelligence