National Economics University

E-PhD Programme Seminar Series

A Meta-analysis of Interventions for

Problematic Smartphone and Social Media Usage

by

Pham Quang Duc

CUNEF Universidad

Time and Venue

Time: 4.00PM – 5.00PM

Date: Monday, 11 August 2025

Venue: Room 15.01, Level 15, Building A1, National Economics University

207 Giai Phong Road, Hanoi, Vietnam

Abstract

Many people would like to reduce their smartphone or social media usage in the hope of improving productivity and well-being but fail to do so due to the habitual nature of smartphone and social media use. Understanding how to encourage consumers to change this habit is important for policy makers. We investigate strategies to manage this consumption with a meta-analysis examining what types of strategy work best. We also address the critical question of consumer heterogeneity, i.e., whether certain people benefit from interventions than others. This study aspires to guide future research of digital addiction interventions, and provide actionable recommendations for policymakers, advocacy groups, and consumers to initiate cost-effective and lasting behavioural change in the domain of smartphone and social media use.

About presenter

Dr. Pham Quang Duc is assistant professor at CUNEF Universidad (Madrid, Spain). He obtained his PhD in Business Studies from IE Business School. His research primarily focuses on consumption habit formation, consumer’s heuristics, and how to apply empirical findings to consumer behavior, especially in the contexts of moderate, sustainable consumption, and interaction between humans and technology. His most recent research used field experiments to explore how to help people reduce social media and mobile phone over-usage. He has presented his works at several international conferences such as Association of Consumer Research, European Marketing Academy, American Marketing Association, and Subjective Probability, Utility, and Decision Making.

About series

This seminar series is part of the E-PhD Program at National Economics University. It targets PhD students, early-career researchers, and senior faculty who find interested in doing research in the areas of economics, business, management, and other inter-disciplinary fields of social science. The series is a platform for the wider research community to exchange ideas, networks and collaborations.

Contact details

Bach Ngoc Thang

Seminar series coordinator

Room 15.04, Building A1

Institute for Sustainable Development

National Economics University

207 Giai Phong Road, Hanoi, Vietnam

M: +84 35 443 1750

E:  bnthang@gmail.com, or thangbn@neu.edu.vn

W: https://isd.neu.edu.vn/