Chen, an assistant professor of communication design, talked with WSOC about a recent lawsuit alleging that apps such as Tinder, Hinge and The League are designed to make users addicted.
Are people looking for love on dating apps such as Tinder, Hinge and The League finding themselves in an unhealthy relationship with the app instead? A new lawsuit claims they are, alleging that the apps are designed to make users addicted.
Charlotte’s WSOC-TV explored those claims, and turned to Assistant Professor for Communication Design Chris Chen for insight. Chen focuses her research on the psychology of communication technologies and the design of user interactions and experiences.
WSOC Journalist Erika Jackson spoke with Chen about the lawsuit, which claims that the game-like design of these dating apps is designed to keep users in a continuous loop. Chen shared that while these apps are designed with algorithms that seek to keep users returning, but that she doesn’t believe those designs are addictive.
鈥淭his is about problematic social media use, which means the behavior is problematic, is hurting people鈥檚 health and well-being, but is not really a disease that needs medical treatment,鈥 Chen told WSOC.
Watch to learn more.
Chen’s expertise falls into the area of user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) design with newer media technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI). She teaches聽Application and Interface Development聽and聽Web and Mobile Design聽in Spring 2024.
Chen examines the psychology of new media technology in her research, focusing on mobile media addiction and algorithmic bias. Her research goal聽is to promote better human-computer interaction that serves users鈥 needs by taking into account their welfare. Chris鈥檚 most recent publications have appeared in聽New Media &聽Society,聽Social Media + Society,聽Telematics & Informatics,聽Telecommunications Policy, and聽Social Science Computer Review,聽and major international conferences, such as AEJMC, ICA, NCA, and CHI.