ConvinceMe: A Critical Design Project
In today’s digital age, companies have the power to shape what we see and influence our decisions, often without us realizing it. But why should only companies have this power? ConvinceMe is a critical design project that explores the possibility of creating a commercial product for individuals, giving them the same tools that companies use. The app allows users to create targeted social media posts to influence others’ behavior, raising important questions about the ethics of digital manipulation. By showing how easily opinions can be shaped, ConvinceMe invites reflection on the impact of technology on personal relationships and how little we know about the forces shaping our online lives.
The full exhibition for ConvinceMe is available on my Adobe Portfolio. Below, you’ll find key highlights and materials from the project, along with the concept behind it and the intended viewer reflection. For the complete experience, please visit the full exhibition by clicking the link.
Project Preview and Concept
The exhibition sign presents the commercial product, allowing viewers to see how the app tracks interactions with targeted social media posts. It also provides tips on how to influence others and demonstrates how easily users can define who and what they wish to influence.
The video briefly explains what social manipulation is, how companies use it, and showcases the commercial artifact created. The goal is to make viewers believe the product is beneficial or justified, prompting them to want to use it.
The scenario images are designed to provoke reflection and discussion, encouraging viewers to consider the potential consequences if this product were to become available. The intention is to shift the viewers' initial desire for the product into a sense of rejection.
The final image aims to prompt reflection on current practices, highlighting that this product is not so far from what already happens. It challenges viewers to consider the real-world consequences of social manipulation and whether they are aware of the impact that is already unfolding.