Designing Consumer Technology for Sustained Wellbeing

This dissertation explores how consumer technology can foster lasting improvements in wellbeing. Consumer technologies - social networking sites, communication tools, and streaming platforms - have become omnipresent, fundamentally shaping how we live, work, and connect. They kickstart our mornings, keep our schedules on track, and curate the soundtrack to our days. They capture cherished memories, help us plan global adventures, and guide us to new experiences. Far beyond mere utilities, they have become integral companions in our daily routines, holding immense potential to enhance wellbeing when designed with care and intention. Yet despite this potential, consumer technology is the focus of intense debate. Concerns have mounted around its overuse, its detrimental effects on teenage mental health, its role in fueling distraction and societal polarization, and its contribution to spreading misinformation.....