Circlo Blog

Tag: digital wellbeing

  • The Great Reset: Redesigning Our Mindsets for the Connected Future.

    The Great Reset: Redesigning Our Mindsets for the Connected Future.

    Scientific research over the last 10 years on how engagement networks affect our overall well-being is now conclusive — and while the results are concerning, they present an opportunity for positive change. This article explores the idea of redesigning engagement networks to optimize our mindset, making us more mindful of our well-being and less mindless in our consumption.

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  • Humanizing the Design System for Better Inclusivity

    Design systems push for universal standardization and over time design patterns emerge leading to users adopting behaviors as if they are second nature. Some of these design patterns however, are either counterintuitive, outdated or flat out bad.

    This article explores popular universal design patterns that are problematic and how we can fix them to design more inclusive and accessible experiences for all.

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  • The Illusion of Algorithms: Reclaiming Control from Invisible Systems

    When Algorithms Shape Our Reality

    Anxiety leaves its imprint not only in the body but also in how we experience the digital world. For many, offline triggers push them online in search of belonging. But instead of connection, they meet a system designed for engagement, not care.

    At first, algorithms know nothing. In the “cold start,” content is random and irrelevant. Soon, patterns emerge—dopamine-rich posts, flawless selfies, manufactured lifestyles without disclaimers. The algorithm learns quickly: novelty, outrage, comparison. Each interaction shapes what comes next.

    What it does not understand is pain. Every dopamine high is followed by depletion. Each comparison deepens loneliness. Over time, the same algorithm that promised connection leaves users more anxious, more isolated, and more fragile. This is not malfunction—it is design.

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  • The Illusion of Design: Turning Technology into a Force for Wellbeing

    When Design Creates Anxiety

    Engagement platforms are meant to support our wellbeing. Yet too often, they unsettle us. A scroll that should offer learning becomes endless and addictive. Notifications flash red, sending signals of danger through our nervous system. Scarcity prompts—“Only 2 remaining!”—turn shopping into stress. Even booking a stay can spiral into pressure, where the fear of missing out outweighs calm judgment. It is what Nielsen Norman Group calls the anxiety-ridden vortex.

    These experiences are not about personal weakness. They are the product of systems designed to maximize engagement rather than nurture balance. And if design can create this cycle of anxiety, it can also help us break free from it.

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