Designed to binge? Exploring user perceptions of interface features on video streaming platforms

Interface designs of video streaming platforms are reasoned to nudge users into binge-watching. More specifically, continued viewing is facilitated by algorithm-based personalized recommendations, autopreview (i.e., automatic playing of preview clips when browsing), and autoplay (i.e., automatic pla...

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Main Authors: Cynthia A. Dekker, Anna Tverdina
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-08-01
Series:Acta Psychologica
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0001691825005232
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author Cynthia A. Dekker
Anna Tverdina
author_facet Cynthia A. Dekker
Anna Tverdina
author_sort Cynthia A. Dekker
collection DOAJ
description Interface designs of video streaming platforms are reasoned to nudge users into binge-watching. More specifically, continued viewing is facilitated by algorithm-based personalized recommendations, autopreview (i.e., automatic playing of preview clips when browsing), and autoplay (i.e., automatic playing of new content after the previous content has ended). The present study aimed to shed light on the user perspective regarding these interface features by testing an extended Technology Acceptance Model. Data were collected from a cross-sectional online survey among 287 young adults. Results indicate that the extent to which a user has a preference for binge-watching as a viewing style predicts their usability perceptions of the platform's interface features. For autoplay specifically, it was revealed that perceived usefulness negatively correlates with perceived manipulation. This suggests that if an interface feature can fulfill people's usage goals (i.e., binge-watching), they feel less resistant to the impact the feature has on their usage. We discuss the importance of users' viewing style preferences and needs when designing and evaluating video streaming platform interfaces.
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spelling doaj-art-c849e6a4d8594e01b88265c24a42f37d2025-08-20T03:51:53ZengElsevierActa Psychologica0001-69182025-08-0125810521010.1016/j.actpsy.2025.105210Designed to binge? Exploring user perceptions of interface features on video streaming platformsCynthia A. Dekker0Anna Tverdina1Corresponding author at: Amsterdam School of Communication Research, University of Amsterdam, Nieuwe Achtergracht 166, 1018 WV, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.; Amsterdam School of Communication Research (ASCoR), University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the NetherlandsAmsterdam School of Communication Research (ASCoR), University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the NetherlandsInterface designs of video streaming platforms are reasoned to nudge users into binge-watching. More specifically, continued viewing is facilitated by algorithm-based personalized recommendations, autopreview (i.e., automatic playing of preview clips when browsing), and autoplay (i.e., automatic playing of new content after the previous content has ended). The present study aimed to shed light on the user perspective regarding these interface features by testing an extended Technology Acceptance Model. Data were collected from a cross-sectional online survey among 287 young adults. Results indicate that the extent to which a user has a preference for binge-watching as a viewing style predicts their usability perceptions of the platform's interface features. For autoplay specifically, it was revealed that perceived usefulness negatively correlates with perceived manipulation. This suggests that if an interface feature can fulfill people's usage goals (i.e., binge-watching), they feel less resistant to the impact the feature has on their usage. We discuss the importance of users' viewing style preferences and needs when designing and evaluating video streaming platform interfaces.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0001691825005232Binge-watchingVideo streaming platformsTechnology acceptance modelPerceived manipulationInterface designRecommendations
spellingShingle Cynthia A. Dekker
Anna Tverdina
Designed to binge? Exploring user perceptions of interface features on video streaming platforms
Acta Psychologica
Binge-watching
Video streaming platforms
Technology acceptance model
Perceived manipulation
Interface design
Recommendations
title Designed to binge? Exploring user perceptions of interface features on video streaming platforms
title_full Designed to binge? Exploring user perceptions of interface features on video streaming platforms
title_fullStr Designed to binge? Exploring user perceptions of interface features on video streaming platforms
title_full_unstemmed Designed to binge? Exploring user perceptions of interface features on video streaming platforms
title_short Designed to binge? Exploring user perceptions of interface features on video streaming platforms
title_sort designed to binge exploring user perceptions of interface features on video streaming platforms
topic Binge-watching
Video streaming platforms
Technology acceptance model
Perceived manipulation
Interface design
Recommendations
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0001691825005232
work_keys_str_mv AT cynthiaadekker designedtobingeexploringuserperceptionsofinterfacefeaturesonvideostreamingplatforms
AT annatverdina designedtobingeexploringuserperceptionsofinterfacefeaturesonvideostreamingplatforms