SwitchTube app helps users control YouTube to stay on task
SwitchTube: A Proof-of-Concept System Introducing "Adaptable Commitment Interfaces" as a Tool for Digital Wellbeing
Human-Computer Interaction
Summary
People often get distracted by YouTube’s recommendations when they want to focus on specific videos, like learning something. The authors created a mobile app called SwitchTube that lets users choose between a Focus Mode for searching directly or an Explore Mode for browsing recommendations. In a three-week test with 46 people, users felt more in control and satisfied because they could switch modes based on their goal. This approach may help people use digital platforms in a way that better supports their well-being.
What this means in practice
- •For mobile app developers: Design user interfaces with switchable modes to balance focused and exploratory content consumption based on user goals.
- •For content platform designers: Incorporate adaptable commitment interfaces to offer users control over recommendation and search-driven experiences to improve engagement and satisfaction.
Authors
Kai Lukoff, Ulrik Lyngs, Karina Shirokova, Raveena Rao, Larry Tian, Himanshu Zade, Sean A. Munson, Alexis Hiniker
Abstract
YouTube has many features, such as homepage recommendations, that encourage users to explore its vast library of videos. However, when users visit YouTube with a specific intention, e.g., learning how to program in Python, these features to encourage exploration are often distracting. Prior work has innovated 'commitment interfaces' that restrict social media but finds that they often indiscriminately block needed content. In this paper, we describe the design, development, and evaluation of an 'adaptable commitment interface,' the SwitchTube mobile app, in which users can toggle between two interfaces when watching YouTube videos: Focus Mode (search-first) and Explore Mode (recommendations-first). In a three-week field deployment with 46 US participants, we evaluate how the ability to switch between interfaces affects user experience, finding that it provides users with a greater sense of agency, satisfaction, and goal alignment. We conclude with design implications for how adaptable commitment interfaces can support digital wellbeing.