Layla Osborn's Design, Arts and Technology Capstone Research

 TikTok “Going Dark”: Digital Dependence and Privacy Concerns This blog entry looks at public reactions to the brief moment when TikTok went “dark” in the United States on January 19, 2025, following growing pressure from the President and lawmakers. The main source I looked at was an article by NPR, which explains why the platform was at risk of being banned and how users responded in real time. According to the article, TikTok faced potential restrictions largely because of its parent company, ByteDance. U.S. officials raised concerns about national security, especially around user data and the possibility of foreign government access. As a result, legislation forced TikTok to either be sold or removed from U.S. app stores. During this period, the app briefly went “dark” for some users, creating confusion and anxiety about whether it would return. What stands out most is how people reacted. I also looked at videos of users documenting their experiences during the outage. Many rea...

Addictive Design and Legal Accountability in Social Media This week, I explored a recent court case that examines whether social media platforms are intentionally designed to encourage addictive behavior. The case involved a plaintiff, K.G.M., who sued Meta Platforms and Google, arguing that features like infinite scrolling and algorithm-driven recommendations contributed to serious mental health issues. In March 2026, the jury ruled in favor of the plaintiff, awarding her $6 million in damages. This decision is important because it suggests that platform design itself (not just user behavior) can be held responsible for harm. It raises questions about whether features commonly used in apps like TikTok are intentionally designed to keep users engaged for long periods. What I find most relevant to my project is how this case reframes familiar design elements as persuasive tools. Features like TikTok’s endless feed and personalized “For You Page” mirror the same engagement strategies dis...