Effectiveness of Actual and Anticipated Incentives for Reducing Mobile Usage

Abstract

We conducted a randomized control trial (RCT) that incentivized smartphone usage reduction. Besides a control condition, two treatments were conducted. In treatment 1, subjects were incentivized to reduce their mobile screen time by 25% for the complete treatment period. In treatment 2, subjects were incentivized to reduce screen time by 25% only for the second half of the treatment period but were informed about their incentives and targets from the beginning. We find that subjects in treatment 1 reduced their mobile usage and sustained a lower post-treatment usage. Conversely, subjects in treatment 2, especially those with excessive mobile usage, started reducing their screen time even before the incentive period, but did not sustain a lower post-treatment usage. When we increased the incentive period and targets in a follow-up RCT, treatment 2 subjects sustained a lower usage. We also study the effects of reducing usage on academic performance and COVID-19 concern.