The rapid evolution of digital interfaces, algorithmic personalization, and persuasive design techniques has significantly reshaped user experiences across platforms such as streaming services, social media, e-commerce, and mobile applications. While these systems offer efficiency, personalization, and engagement, emerging evidence highlights risks related to cognitive overload, manipulative design practices, diminished digital well-being, and increased anxiety. This scoping review synthesizes empirical, conceptual, and design-based research published between 2023 and 2026 to map key themes, methodologies, and findings related to interface persuasion, dark patterns, digital detox, and user well-being. This review identifies dominant research clusters, methodological trends, gaps in current knowledge, and implications for designers, policymakers, and researchers. The findings reveal a tension between engagement-driven design and user autonomy, underscoring the need for ethical interface practices, transparent regulation, and user-centered design frameworks.
Patel et al. (Sun,) studied this question.
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