Understanding Digital Emotion Regulation: Insights for Business Leaders

Digital Emotion Regulation is an emerging concept that explores how we use digital tools, like smartphones and social media, to manage our emotions, moods, and stress levels. New research is bringing together two fields: psychology research on how and why people regulate their emotions, and computing research about how digital technologies impact users’ emotions.

Here we break down the key concepts for you. We’ll also look at how this new area can inform mindful tech management, human-centered tech development, and digital strategies.

We all know that digital technology is a big part of our everyday lives, but the role it can play in emotion regulation isn’t as commonly talked about. A study published in Current Directions in Psychological Science explores how people increasingly turn to digital emotion regulation like listening to music playlists to change your mood, using meditation apps to reduce stress, or going to online communities for support. It can be an active choice, like opening up specific content to change your mood, or passive, like mindlessly scrolling through social media feeds.

While digital tools do give us quick ways to manage our emotions, the results aren’t always positive. The study suggests overreliance on digital emotion regulation might lead to reduced face-to-face interactions and impact long-term emotional health if we ignore underlying issues.

Understanding these concepts can help business leaders because they directly affect how employees interact with technology in the workplace and how customers engage with digital content. By recognizing patterns, businesses can create strategies that promote well-being and foster stronger connections with their audience.

Mindful Technology Management

Technology can be a useful way to manage your emotions, even in the workplace. For example, using a phone to relieve stress during work hours can be a quick fix.  But it has also been shown to decrease performance. The goal is to understand how technology is already used in an organization and find opportunities to create a workplace culture promoting mindful use of devices to limit the downsides. This might mean writing guidelines — like encouraging employees to avoid multitasking or requiring digital breaks throughout the day — to boost both productivity and well-being.

Bringing mindfulness practices to the workplace has been shown to reduce stress, enhance productivity, and stimulate creativity. It also decreases anxiety and depression. By addressing company policies on digital balance and mental health, leaders can create a healthier work environment that doesn’t discount the benefits of digital emotion regulation.

Human-Centered Technology Development

When we think about how people interact with technology, we can focus on creating positive experiences. The idea behind human-centered design is to focus on users’ needs, behaviors, and emotions during product development. Using research insights about how people digitally manage their emotions can also help developers anticipate unintended uses. When the design of products meets functional requirements and supports positive emotional experiences, even with unexpected uses, it can build customer loyalty and improve user experiences because users feel more satisfied and connected with the product.

Engaging Digital Strategies

Studies also show that emotions are contagious online, just like they are in person. The content people consume — from news to trending videos — influences feelings, moods, and stress levels. When you understand this, you can craft content for your audience that not only connects but also positively impacts emotional states and builds stronger relationships.

By recognizing how technology impacts emotions, business leaders can create positive work environments, develop better products, and build stronger customer relationships. This ultimately drives long-term success by making sure your strategies align with the emotional needs and behaviors of your customers.

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Digital Emotion Regulation in Current Directions in Psychological Science