RESEARCH_FILE
B. J. Fogg
Stanford University (Persuasive Technology Lab)
Known for:Behavioral design research on how technology systems use variable reward schedules and motivational triggers to shape habitual and compulsive use patterns
SEE THE PRACTICE
Turn a thought this research explains into one clear move.
THE THOUGHT
“Five more minutes”
YOUR RECORDED RESPONSE
“Five minutes is how the feed gets my whole break.”
ONE PRIVATE MOVE
Set your phone on a table face down, then turn over a nearby mug, book, or note and leave it where you can see it for the next two minutes before touching the phone again.
Key findings
- 2019
Experimental research on smartphone notifications found that disabling non-essential push notifications significantly reduced checking frequency and improved focus — demonstrating that the notification environment, not device ownership per se, is the proximate driver of compulsive checking loops. Smartphone Notifications: Effects on Attention, Focus, and Task Performance ↗