Growing Wise to Technology: Understanding How Technology Affects Enjoyable Consumption

Technology has profoundly changed how people consume enjoyable material. From how much and how fast to what types of content, technology enables people to consume in new and more varied ways. Video streaming services allow consumers to binge content they previously would have consumed at a slower, fixed pace. Social media allows consumers to broadcast their enjoyable consumption to others who would previously never have known how they spend their time. Rapid growth in the availability of digital products gives consumers new choices for how to consumer enjoyable content. Together, these papers shed light on how technology shapes enjoyable consumption. Going beyond merely demonstrating the effects of technology, this session provides insight into how and why technology alters how much, how fast, and what content people consume. These findings not only advance our knowledge of how technology impacts consumers, but also how consumers make decisions about enjoyable consumption. This session should have broad appeal to researchers studying technology, experiences, hedonic consumption, time use, and well-being.