Applied Research in Digital Wellbeing

Life might seem to stack up all at once at times. We find ourselves juggling a slew of daily difficulties, significant or less significant, or unforeseen occurrences that send our anxiety or stress levels soaring. When this happens, it might be tough to take a step back and assess how we’re actually doing. We may believe we are doing well and engaging in helpful activities, but how true is this? And how can we sufficiently reflect to address areas where we may be engaging in paradoxical actions to assist us deal effectively?

In recent years, academics throughout the world have focused on how information and communication technologies might be developed to better support the human pursuit for enjoyment and wellbeing. On the one hand, the emergence of positive psychology has cleared the way for a more comprehensive knowledge of the factors that influence psychological wellbeing. Technology developers, on the other hand, have begun to recognize the significance of incorporating wellbeing concepts into the design of interactive systems. The convergence of these two themes has resulted in the establishment of new research and development disciplines such as “positive technology” and “positive computing,”. The intersection of these two themes has resulted in the formation of new research and development disciplines such as “positive technology” and “positive computing,” both with the goal of producing technology that is intentionally designed to promote wellbeing in people and groups (Gaggioli, Riva, Peters, Calvo, 2017).

Every aspect of our everyday life has been infiltrated by technology. In many cases, technology has the potential to increase productivity in our subjects of study while simultaneously enhancing social participation. Despite these advantages, technology and digital services have the potential to have a detrimental impact on people’s emotional, physical, and social wellbeing. Everyday life’s digital environment provides a wealth of alternatives, allowing consumers to consume information on a number of devices whenever and wherever they choose. Our interactions with media have changed as our lives and expectations have changed. To attain digital wellbeing and mindfulness, it is not essential to use technology less frequently. Rather, it is about being critical about how we use technology and thinking on why we engage: Are we making a constructive choice or are we simply being drawn to digitally alluring platforms?

What individuals want from their online world is frequently the same as what they want from their offline world – connection, knowledge, time to relax, time to learn, a sense of being seen, a method to de-stress, and a way to contribute. Technology does not inherently generate issues; rather, it is how we utilize it that does.

It is difficult to separate personal or professional domains of interaction or tools since our contacts and the material we consume, generate, and share are often inextricably linked.

Several difficulties may occur while attempting to define one’s digital self:

• • Work vs. personal – Work is no longer limited by geographical borders. We have the impression that we may be “at work” at any time of day, on any day of the week, and from any place. The question is if people are able to impose new constraints on this.
• • Public vs. private – It is difficult to identify what is public and private; therefore, people must bend the rules by utilizing settings to restrict access to specific groups. People may use various tools for different audiences.
• • Self-reflection vs. the need for appreciation – Much of our online activity is motivated by a need for acknowledgment, a want to know that others have read and appreciated what we’ve said. Many technologies, such as blogs, can, however, be utilized for self-reflection rather than relying on others to validate our actions.
• • Passive vs. active involvement – Many people use social media in an unsocial manner. Being present without saying up is what elegant lurking (Beaudoin, 2002; White, 2015) refers to, differing from how we interact in person.
• • Human vs. technology – Is your phone an extension of you? Is it an outside power intervening in your life? Techno-self research investigates this link and people reliance on technology as they progress from functionality to interactivity.
• • Quality vs. quantity – Involvement is frequently measured in terms of “likes” rather than in-depth answers. It is important to identify which of these people emphasize more.