中文摘要
许多人认为，智能手机和社交媒体等数字技术具有成瘾性。我们构建了一个数字成瘾的经济学模型，并利用一项随机对照试验对其进行估计。减少社交媒体使用的临时激励措施具有持久效果，表明社交媒体是习惯形成的。允许人们为未来的屏幕时间设定限制会大幅减少使用量，表明存在自我控制问题。其他证据表明，人们对习惯形成是不注意的，且部分未意识到自身的自我控制问题。透过我们模型的视角审视这些事实，表明自我控制问题导致了31%的社交媒体使用。(JEL D12, D61, D90, D91, I31, L86, O33)
Abstract
Many have argued that digital technologies such as smartphones and social media are addictive. We develop an economic model of digital addiction and estimate it using a randomized experiment. Temporary incentives to reduce social media use have persistent effects, suggesting social media are habit forming. Allowing people to set limits on their future screen time substantially reduces use, suggesting self-control problems. Additional evidence suggests people are inattentive to habit formation and partially unaware of self-control problems. Looking at these facts through the lens of our model suggests that self-control problems cause 31 percent of social media use. (JEL D12, D61, D90, D91, I31, L86, O33)