Speculating for Dissociation: Exploring the tension between User Agency and Dissociative Design Patterns in Social Media Interfaces
2025 (English)Independent thesis Basic level (degree of Bachelor), 15 credits / 22,5 HE credits
Student thesis
Abstract [en]
This thesis contributes to the field of Interaction Design by critically examining the intersection of user agency, interface design, and flow state in interaction patterns within the attention economy of social media. Building on literature from human-computer interaction and digital well-being, it introduces the concept of intentional dissociation as a counterpoint to dominant narratives that frame disengagement as purely negative or pathological. Through some speculative, user-centered exploratory prototypes, the project investigates how intentionally designed dissociative flow states might serve as meaningful and restorative forms of engagement on social network sites. By highlighting interaction patterns that support reflection, sparse immersion, and intentional disconnection, the work speculates on alternative design concepts that can prioritize user engagement and agency.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
2025. , p. 60
Keywords [en]
social media, dissociation, interface design, speculative design, user agency, provotyping
National Category
Human Computer Interaction
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:mau:diva-78398OAI: oai:DiVA.org:mau-78398DiVA, id: diva2:1979041
Educational program
KS K3 Interaction Design (bachelor)
Supervisors
Examiners
2025-07-072025-06-292025-07-07Bibliographically approved