Scanr
In-app feature
nmillrr
Role:
Designer
Date:
Feb 2023
Preview
https://www.nmillrr.com
Designing a photo-editing detection feature for toxic social media content
In my Digital Media Ethics course at UConn, I was given the assignment of developing an idea to make our digital interactions healthier.
Throughout this course, I learned a lot about the psychology behind user experience and product design, particularly in blue chip tech companies. In the interest of profit, designers often make exploitative decisions in order to capture and maintain consumer attention, which can result in losing sight of the humane perspective.
With this principle in mind, I concepted a tool that could be integrated into Instagram to foster a healthier digital environment for its users.
During the pandemic, Instagram rolled out a label that would appear on COVID-19 related content to support accurate disease information. In order to foster a healthier platform, a similar feature could be used to help users identify edited posts, specifically of models and influencers. Using photoforensics, machine learning, and other content moderation techniques, posts might be tagged as edited.
This introduction of transparency could significantly reduce Instagram’s negative impact on users’ self/body image, eating disorders, and mental health issues.
Rather than maintaining a profit-orientation, UX and product designers can adopt a user-oriented approach that prioritizes consumer well-being. I’d like to see more designers joining the conversation on humane design.