These strategies include "infinite scrolling" feeds, "autoplay" features for content, and advertisements or push notifications that prompt immediate action through artificially created urgency. Despite growing awareness of these risks, which particularly affect children and young people, regulatory measures remain limited.
The research project ADDICT, conducted by the IHS Junior Research Group "Digitalization and Social Transformation" under the leadership of Laura Wiesböck, investigates how social media platforms can be evaluated based on their addiction risks. The aim is to analyze addictive design practices on platforms most popular with adolescents and to develop a taxonomy that provides authorities with an evidence-based foundation for regulation. To this end, a systematic literature review of 270 scientific sources was conducted. From this, 9 logics and 29 features were identified and operationalized into a "traffic light" taxonomy system consisting of 55 questions.
Case studies conducted on the platforms TikTok and Instagram show that most features on both platforms are classified as high-risk, highlighting their focus on permanent and compulsive user retention. Specifically, the analysis of TikTok revealed 9 low-risk, 2 medium-risk, and 44 high-risk elements. For Instagram, 10 low-risk, 5 medium-risk, and 40 high-risk elements were identified.
To present the findings, a public press conference was held on February 10, Safer Internet Day, at the Chamber of Labour (Arbeiterkammer) in Vienna. Furthermore, Laura Wiesböck will present the project results in March at the Brussels office of the Austrian Federal Chamber of Labour, alongside representatives of the European Consumer Organisation (BEUC). This presentation takes place within the framework of the Digital Fairness Act (DFA)—a European Commission initiative aimed at strengthening EU consumer protection in the digital age.