Special Issue “Well-Being in the Digital World” Fully Published

Securing individual well-being is a central societal objective. Despite numerous governmental initiatives aimed at promoting mental health, support for vulnerable population groups often remains insufficient. This highlights the need for innovative approaches. Digital technologies can contribute to well-being, yet their use is also associated with risks and unintended consequences. In light of this context, the WJDS special issue entitled “Well-Being in the Digital World” brings together five interdisciplinary perspectives on the connection between digital technology use and user well-being.

Alongside an introduction by the guest editors, the papers address topics such as addictive design and dark patterns (Xin Ye), the role of online mental health communities (Maria Grub), approaches to measuring eudaimonic virtues in human technology interaction (Julian Marvin Joers & Ernesto William De Luca), gendered experiences and coping strategies related to technostress at work (Myriam Gaitsch & Philip Schörpf), and dynamic practices of digital disconnection (Merle Pohl, Lauri Wessel & Jan vom Brocke).

The Weizenbaum Journal of the Digital Society (WJDS) is a peer-reviewed open access journal dedicated to research on the conditions, forms and consequences of the digital transformation of society in various fields. Founded in 2021, the WJDS is a resource for an academic public and aims to promote high-quality research from inter- and transdisciplinary perspectives.