Graphic Designers struggle to balance the principles of creating engaging applications for their clients with the moral obligation of preventing possible dopamine-driven addictive behaviors in adolescents, leading to reduced academic performance, diminished social skills, and increased mood disorders.
Advancements in technology during the last 30 years have transformed our lives, careers, and social connections. Similar to any other aspect of life, some advancements have produced meaningful benefits, while others have led to unintended consequences, especially for young people whose minds have not fully matured. In this digital age, user interface designs strive to attract users and maintain their interest through several methods, such as continuous scrolling, sophisticated incentives to stay engaged, repeated notifications, and gamification. While these approaches have boosted user engagement, are they ethically suitable for targeting a youthful demographic? Some consequences have already materialized, leading youth to addictive behaviors, reduced academic performance, diminished social skills, and increased mood disorders. The importance of this subject cannot be overstated. Much like accessibility in design became vital for providing a suitable interface to a maturing populace, a responsible design when targeting adolescents is now becoming an emergent requirement. The study will find a way forward that is responsible to young users while safeguarding their emotional and social welfare.
Image Credit
“Cover Image: Featuring a closeup portrait of the face and eyes of an American woman with brown hair looking” FREEPIK: Namtran. Accessed on 08 September 2024, https://www.freepik.com/premium-photo/featuring-closeup-portrait-face-eyes-american-woman-with-brown-hair-looking-di_246370625.htm#fromView=image_search_similar&page=1&position=20&uuid=3574cca9-9b69-456f-9658-85003c30c32c.
