Illuminating Muscle Memory’s Sinister Side: A Social Media Case Study

Mariliza Kontogeorgou; Christof van Nimwegen; Almila Akdag

doi:10.1145/3605655.3605664

Illuminating Muscle Memory’s Sinister Side: A Social Media Case Study

Mariliza Kontogeorgou, Christof van Nimwegen, Almila Akdag

Utrecht University

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

When a task is repeated, it becomes part of procedural memory. This type of memory dedicated to movement is called “muscle memory”, which allows one to perform actions unconsciously. Within the context of social media, muscle memory builds up if one uses SM applications frequently. In this paper, we investigate the effects of muscle memory within Instagram, and report the following findings: We designed a user study examining speed and accuracy of using a newly changed interface which showed slower reaction time and more errors. Combining these results with users’ perceived feelings lead us to conclude that in specific UX interface changes muscle memory can be applied as a dark pattern.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	ECCE 2023 - Proceedings of the European Conference on Cognitive Ergonomics 2023
Place of Publication	New York, NY, USA
Publisher	Association for Computing Machinery
Number of pages	4
ISBN (Electronic)	9798400708756
ISBN (Print)	9798400708756
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1145/3605655.3605664
Publication status	Published - 19 Sept 2023
Event	The European Conference on Cognitive Ergonomics 2023: Responsible Technology - Swansea, United Kingdom Duration: 19 Sept 2023 → 22 Sept 2023

Conference

Conference	The European Conference on Cognitive Ergonomics 2023
Abbreviated title	ECCE 2023
Country/Territory	United Kingdom
City	Swansea
Period	19/09/23 → 22/09/23

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 ACM.

Keywords

Muscle Memory
Social Media Applications
Deceptive Design
Instagram

Access to Document

10.1145/3605655.3605664

3605655.3605664Final published version, 756 KBLicence: Taverne

Cite this

@inproceedings{67613845955b4000b516c57fbaa9a36c,

title = "Illuminating Muscle Memory{\textquoteright}s Sinister Side: A Social Media Case Study",

abstract = "When a task is repeated, it becomes part of procedural memory. This type of memory dedicated to movement is called “muscle memory”, which allows one to perform actions unconsciously. Within the context of social media, muscle memory builds up if one uses SM applications frequently. In this paper, we investigate the effects of muscle memory within Instagram, and report the following findings: We designed a user study examining speed and accuracy of using a newly changed interface which showed slower reaction time and more errors. Combining these results with users{\textquoteright} perceived feelings lead us to conclude that in specific UX interface changes muscle memory can be applied as a dark pattern.",

keywords = "Muscle Memory, Social Media Applications, Deceptive Design, Instagram",

author = "Mariliza Kontogeorgou and {van Nimwegen}, Christof and Almila Akdag",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2023 ACM.; The European Conference on Cognitive Ergonomics 2023 : Responsible Technology, ECCE 2023 ; Conference date: 19-09-2023 Through 22-09-2023",

year = "2023",

month = sep,

day = "19",

doi = "10.1145/3605655.3605664",

language = "English",

isbn = "9798400708756",

booktitle = "ECCE 2023 - Proceedings of the European Conference on Cognitive Ergonomics 2023",

publisher = "Association for Computing Machinery",

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Kontogeorgou, M, van Nimwegen, C & Akdag, A 2023, Illuminating Muscle Memory’s Sinister Side: A Social Media Case Study. in ECCE 2023 - Proceedings of the European Conference on Cognitive Ergonomics 2023., 7, Association for Computing Machinery, New York, NY, USA, The European Conference on Cognitive Ergonomics 2023, Swansea, United Kingdom, 19/09/23. https://doi.org/10.1145/3605655.3605664

Illuminating Muscle Memory’s Sinister Side: A Social Media Case Study. / Kontogeorgou, Mariliza; van Nimwegen, Christof ; Akdag, Almila.
ECCE 2023 - Proceedings of the European Conference on Cognitive Ergonomics 2023. New York, NY, USA: Association for Computing Machinery, 2023. 7.

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › Academic › peer-review

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T1 - Illuminating Muscle Memory’s Sinister Side

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AU - Kontogeorgou, Mariliza

AU - van Nimwegen, Christof

AU - Akdag, Almila

PY - 2023/9/19

Y1 - 2023/9/19

N2 - When a task is repeated, it becomes part of procedural memory. This type of memory dedicated to movement is called “muscle memory”, which allows one to perform actions unconsciously. Within the context of social media, muscle memory builds up if one uses SM applications frequently. In this paper, we investigate the effects of muscle memory within Instagram, and report the following findings: We designed a user study examining speed and accuracy of using a newly changed interface which showed slower reaction time and more errors. Combining these results with users’ perceived feelings lead us to conclude that in specific UX interface changes muscle memory can be applied as a dark pattern.

AB - When a task is repeated, it becomes part of procedural memory. This type of memory dedicated to movement is called “muscle memory”, which allows one to perform actions unconsciously. Within the context of social media, muscle memory builds up if one uses SM applications frequently. In this paper, we investigate the effects of muscle memory within Instagram, and report the following findings: We designed a user study examining speed and accuracy of using a newly changed interface which showed slower reaction time and more errors. Combining these results with users’ perceived feelings lead us to conclude that in specific UX interface changes muscle memory can be applied as a dark pattern.

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KW - Social Media Applications

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M3 - Conference contribution

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BT - ECCE 2023 - Proceedings of the European Conference on Cognitive Ergonomics 2023

PB - Association for Computing Machinery

CY - New York, NY, USA

Y2 - 19 September 2023 through 22 September 2023

ER -

Illuminating Muscle Memory’s Sinister Side: A Social Media Case Study

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Keywords

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