Project Summary

The cost-of-living crisis highlights once more how the availability of financial resources impacts human wellbeing. In addition to income inequality, lacking access to financial support or financial literacy gaps may lead to more individuals struggling – financially and otherwise. 

Various digital apps offer access to financial services and planning tools. The design of these FinTech apps often focuses on user convenience, gamification, and technological familiarity with design philosophies that can be encountered in social media apps too. 

Yet certain interactions and habits displayed when using social media spur user anxiety, or problematic behaviours, and thus mitigate the positive aspects of these powerful digital technologies. 

The main questions addressed in this project relate to how we can ensure that potentially powerful digital tools are accessible to – and used by – those who stand to benefit the most and how to make sure these tools are inclusive and more than just a pastime. To this end, an initial survey will elicit familiarity with FinTech apps amongst a variety of demographic groups. After a randomised information-update treatment, follow-up surveys enable us to evaluate how the usage of FinTech apps influences users’ wellbeing. 

Results

Partner Organisation