Designing paralinguistic digital affordances for social support

Abstract

Paralinguistic digital affordances (PDAs) [2] are simple cues that one can give in response to social media content with one click. The Like, while ubiquitous, can be inappropriate for certain situations due to its literal meaning. In this study, we conducted focus groups with young adults to understand what type of PDAs would be best in a system designed specifically for social support. Hugs were considered to be a good alternative, although cultural sensitivities should be taken into consideration.