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Scope – A Mental Health Guide for Social Media

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ADCE Student Awards

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IDEA Scope is a mental health app for social media that helps users gain more awareness of their psychological well-being in relation to their screen time. BACKGROUND The project investigates the addictive and negative effects of user interface design practices in social media apps on young adults. As an antithesis to current UI principles, the app's design is based on 7 Exitability Design Guidelines, which were developed in collaboration with medical experts. In addition to (1.) Accessibility and (2.) Usability, the concept of "Exitability" (3.) aims to close the cycle to a more holistic UX framework. Implementing these principles, Scope offers a health-based solution to harming screen use, designed to give those affected more control over their user habits. FUNCTION With the help of a daily Check In routine, Scope combines a screen time tracker with a mood barometer. The app prompts users to rate their mood before and after their social media use and sends them reminders when time limits are met. With this information, Scope provides weekly Screensights into the user's mental health status. In case of psychological emergencies, Scope's exit function provides users with a clearly structured support guide. UX & UI DESIGN Scope uses psychology in user interface design to support people's mental health – instead of manipulating them. The UX-Design implements motivational elements such as gamification, progress-streaks and reminder notifications in order to keep users from over-using social media. By doing so, it uses similar mechanisms as social media – and uses them against it. The interface design conveys a positive mood with custom made illustrations, animations and a calming color scheme. The bespoke humanist typeface Exit Sans transports the optimistic, yet professional tonality of Scope's identity. PLEASE NOTE The app is not meant to replace professional psychological expertise or therapy.

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