Defining, Classifying and Identifying Addictive Patterns in Digital Products

Abstract

Understanding and regulating addictive patterns is essential for protecting users’ rights and freedoms in the digital age. A strong framework is necessary to identify these patterns, ensuring that digital providers operate in ways that respect users’ privacy, autonomy, and well-being. This paper aims to contribute to this effort by developing the FoSIP framework, which defines addictive design strategies, classifies them into a new three-level taxonomy, and proposes guidelines for identifying their presence in user interfaces. This framework will assist providers in designing ethical products and help users recognize these addictive patterns. Additionally, it will support supervisory, oversight, and enforcement authorities in monitoring compliance with regulations such as the General Data Protection Regulation or the Digital Services Act. By addressing the challenges posed by addictive patterns, the FoSIP framework promotes a safer, fairer, and more transparent digital environment.