Digitally Distracted: Development and Examination of Conflicted Technology Use

With smartphones allowing billions of users to engage in a plethora of activities anytime and anywhere, many people are increasingly concerned with digital distraction, where technology is used in conflict with goals or intentions. To address it, we require a conceptualization and an understanding of its prevalence, its factors, and its mechanisms. Based on a literature review, we use the theories of self-control and dual process to develop the construct Conflicted Technology Use. We then develop and deploy an instrument to examine where and when it takes place, who is susceptible, how it is triggered, and which activities are involved. We further aim to examine the structure of the phenomenon through cluster analysis. We report on four studies from two countries, with a total of 690 participants. By discussing these findings in relation to theories we set out how it can inform specific studies into the combatting Conflicted Technology Use