Prosocial Design Network

4 min read Original article ↗
A pop-up box mockup with an hourglass icon, which asks the user to "Take a moment to cool own before making a decision."

Cooling Down Prompt

3

Decrease engagement with harmful content

Civic Signal

Understand

:

Show reliable information

when to use

Proactive

Likely

3

Reduce Toxicity

A prompt dialog box with a lightbulb icon, which asks "What evidence is there to support your opinion?" It invites the user to type it out and then send it.

Thought-Provoking Questions

4

Increase objective knowledge

Civic Signal

Understand

:

Build civic competence

when to use

Proactive

Tentative

4

Safeguard Truth

A dialog box with a picture of two hands shaking, which says "I pledge to participate in this group." the illustration says the user may Commit to the pledge or decline it. It says beneath that the pledge will be made visible to the community.

Commitment Pledges

4

Increase participation in online groups

Civic Signal

Connect

:

Cultivate Belonging

when to use

Proactive

Tentative

4

Retain Users

Symbolic Contribution Awards

2

To increase contributor retention on community-based platforms

Civic Signal

Connect

:

Cultivate Belonging

when to use

Reactive

Convincing

2

Retain Users

A graphic of a double quotation mark in a box.

Default Quote Reshare

5

Reduce the spread of misinformation

Civic Signal

Understand

:

Show reliable information

when to use

Interactive

Mixed

5

Safeguard Truth

Illustration of a toggle button, labeled with an icon for a viewfinder to suggest the idea of focusing on something. This is a visual metaphor, as the intervention instead has to do with focusing on tasks and not objects.

Toggle To Focus Mode

4

Increase agency

Civic Signal

Welcome

:

Ensure user safety

when to use

Interactive

Tentative

4

Retain Users

An image of a badge indicating that a comment was open minded.

Open-Minded Badge

4

Foster open-minded dialogue

Civic Signal

Understand

:

Promote thoughtful conversation

when to use

Proactive

Tentative

4

Improve Content

A stylized illustration of a web browser window with a search bar at the top and three listed search results below it. There is an information icon inside the search bar. The illustration is in a minimalist style.

Post Guidance

2

Improve user content quality

Civic Signal

Understand

:

Promote thoughtful conversation

when to use

Interactive

Convincing

2

Improve Content

An image showing negative comments being put through a filter.

Filtering Offensive Comments

5

Promote healthier interactions

Civic Signal

Welcome

:

Ensure user safety

when to use

Reactive

Mixed

5

An icon showing a stack of batched notifications for a phone.

Batching Notifications

4

Reduce smartphone distraction and improve well-being

Civic Signal

:

when to use

Proactive

Tentative

4

A downvote icon next to a comment that has a bunch of thumbs-downs on it.

Down Votes

8

Improve discourse

Civic Signal

Understand

:

Promote thoughtful conversation

when to use

Reactive

Unlikely

8

An enlarged up arrow next to a quality comment, indicating it is a good post.

Up Votes

3

Improve discourse

Civic Signal

Understand

:

Promote thoughtful conversation

when to use

Reactive

Likely

3

Improve Content

A feed of comments, each with different labels indicating levels of trustworthiness.

Labeling: Source Credibility

4

Reduce misinformation

Civic Signal

Understand

:

Show reliable information

when to use

Interactive

Tentative

4

An example of a reverse chronological feed.

Reverse Chronological Feeds

8

Reducing toxic division

Civic Signal

Connect

:

Build bridges between groups

when to use

Interactive

Unlikely

8

Curb Polarization

An example of a prompt that says "Your Comment Is Likely To Be Harmful To Overs" which invites the user to edit their message or post it anyway.

Caution About Increasing Toxicity

4

De-escalate tense threads and reduce toxicity

Civic Signal

Welcome

:

Ensure user safety

when to use

Interactive

Tentative

4

Reduce Toxicity

A minimalist line drawing of a user interface element showing a document or content card with horizontal lines representing text. Below it is a smaller box labeled 'Readers added context' with more horizontal lines, suggesting additional information or commentary.

Crowdsourcing Contextual Information (Community Notes)

2

Reduce the spread of misinformation

Civic Signal

Understand

:

Show reliable information

when to use

Interactive

Convincing

2

Safeguard Truth

An illustration of a user interface layout with two main sections. On the left, there is a rectangular panel with multiple lines, likely representing a list or text content. On the right, there is a smaller panel with a search bar at the top and two circular icons below it—one containing a checkmark and the other an "X"—which likely symbolize approval and rejection actions. The style is minimalistic, with a dark outline and simple design elements.

Moderation Tool for Ban Appeals

2

Reduce moderation burden and exposure to toxic ban appeals

Civic Signal

Welcome

:

Ensure user safety

when to use

Reactive

Convincing

2

Reduce Toxicity

A person standing and pointing at a presentation board or screen. The board contains a user profile or message icon at the top, followed by a warning triangle with an exclamation mark inside it, suggesting an alert or important notice. The style is minimalistic, using dark outlines and simple shapes to represent the elements.

Pre-approving Posts

3

Prevent rule-breaking posts

Civic Signal

Understand

:

Promote thoughtful conversation

when to use

Interactive

Likely

3

Improve Content

Mockup of a digital self control app, which lets the user select the apps they'd like to start using less.

Digital Self-Control Apps

2

Reduce time spent on distracting apps

Civic Signal

:

when to use

Interactive

Convincing

2

An illustration of the pop-up rephrasing prompt window.

Suggest Constructive Rephrased Messages

4

Improve conversations on divisive topics

Civic Signal

Understand

:

Promote thoughtful conversation

when to use

Interactive

Tentative

4

Reduce Toxicity

A mockup for a browser link being shared. The button below includes the prompt: "I think this news is accurate."

Accuracy Prompts

2

Reduce re-posting of fake news

Civic Signal

Understand

:

Show reliable information

when to use

Interactive

Convincing

2

Safeguard Truth

A symbol of a globe on the left, indicating the public. There is an arrow pointing to a smaller group of people on the right. This is meant to evoke going from a wider group to a smaller group.

Nudging Conversations to Groups

4

Create more spaces for civil discussions

Civic Signal

Understand

:

Promote thoughtful conversation

when to use

Proactive

Tentative

4

Reduce Toxicity

An intervention mockup with a meme showing two people in a reciprocal "ying-yang" icon.

Shared Humanity Memes

4

Reduce intergroup animosity

Civic Signal

Welcome

:

Encourage the humanization of others

when to use

Proactive

Tentative

4

Curb Polarization

An example of a pop-up that says "Your comment breaks Rule 2. You've been restricted for 24 hours."

Removing Rule-breaking Comments

1

Reduce rule-breaking and recidivism

Civic Signal

Welcome

:

Ensure user safety

when to use

Reactive

Validated

1

Reduce Toxicity

An illustration showing two mobile newsfeeds coming together.

Increase Exposure to Counter-partisan Content

5

Reduce inter-party animosity

Civic Signal

Connect

:

Build bridges between groups

when to use

Proactive

Mixed

5

Curb Polarization

A feed in the foreground is out of focus, while an idyllic landscape in the background is in focus.

Positive Background Imagery

6

Increase civility

Civic Signal

Understand

:

Promote thoughtful conversation

when to use

Proactive

Emergent

6

Curb Polarization

A button mockup that says 'Respect Post', it has a handshake icon.

Respect Button

4

Decrease partisan behavior

Civic Signal

Connect

:

Build bridges between groups

when to use

Proactive

Tentative

4

Curb Polarization

Removal Explanations

3

Reduce repeated rule-breaking

Civic Signal

Welcome

:

Ensure user safety

when to use

Reactive

Likely

3

Reduce Toxicity

A Life of Brian comment that's been edited, and assigned a ribbon to show it's the top pick from a moderator.

Highlighting High Quality Comments

3

Improve the quality of users’ comments

Civic Signal

Understand

:

Promote thoughtful conversation

when to use

Reactive

Likely

3

Improve Content

A pop up displaying a list of rules.

Reminder of Norms

1

Increase adherence to platform rules.

Civic Signal

Welcome

:

Invite Participation

when to use

Proactive

Validated

1

Reduce Toxicity

A mockup of a feed encouraging users to write something substantive.

Ask Users to Write Something Substantive When Sharing Content

7

Add context and make users consider what they’re sharing

Civic Signal

Understand

:

Show reliable information

when to use

Interactive

Inference

7

Safeguard Truth

A commenter posts a lot of content, to which an authoritative finger is raised in objection to that commenter's not letting others contribute.

Prompt Letting Others Post

7

Open up the discussion to more people

Civic Signal

Welcome

:

Invite Participation

when to use

Interactive

Inference

7

Reduce Toxicity

A user types out 'Romani Evnt Domus' and a moderator corrects his Latin grammar. This is an easter egg from a Monty Python film.

Let Mods Suggest Edits to Users

7

Cut down unnecessary tension and confusion

Civic Signal

Understand

:

Promote thoughtful conversation

when to use

Reactive

Inference

7

Improve Content

A mockup of a comment. It has a prompt on top of it that says 'heads up, topics like this can get heated'.

Warning that Topic is Sensitive

7

Reduce likelihood of sharing triggering content

Civic Signal

Welcome

:

Ensure user safety

when to use

Proactive

Inference

7

Reduce Toxicity

A mockup illustrating two posts in a feed: one is labelled as "misleading" whereas the one beneath it has a less severe label of "Stay informed".

Fact-checking Labels

4

Reduce the spread of misleading content

Civic Signal

Understand

:

Show reliable information

when to use

Interactive

Tentative

4

Safeguard Truth

A wireframe of how a slowdown intervention would, with a timer, show users how long they must wait to post again.

Slowdown Modes

7

Slow users down so their followup comments are more thoughtful

Civic Signal

Understand

:

Promote thoughtful conversation

when to use

Proactive

Inference

7

Reduce Toxicity

A mockup of a phone screen with this intervention, explaining that "You may encounter unverified claims on this topic." The icon is of an ear on a shield, representing the idea of 'protecting your ears from rumors.'

Prebunking Misinformation

4

Raise critical awareness towards specific misinformation narratives

Civic Signal

Understand

:

Show reliable information

when to use

Proactive

Tentative

4

Safeguard Truth

An expanded modal box, which conveys the concept of listening to a recording of someone else's voice.

Audio Option for User Input

7

Humanize users in one anothers' eyes

Civic Signal

Welcome

:

Encourage the humanization of others

when to use

Interactive

Inference

7

Reduce Toxicity

A mockup of an over-the-top news headline that reads "ALIENS!". In front of it is a reminder: "If shocking claims in a headline sound unbelievable, then they probably are."

Misinformation literacy

3

Build resilience towards misinformation

Civic Signal

Understand

:

Build civic competence

when to use

Proactive

Likely

3

Safeguard Truth

A mockup of an intervention showing a Twitter comment, but it has a new button along the bottom that shows how many people have viewed the tweet.

Show Content Reach (# of Views)

6

Evoke self-consciousness for post conscientiousness

Civic Signal

Understand

:

Promote thoughtful conversation

when to use

Reactive

Emergent

6

Improve Content

A mockup of a comment. Next to the user's profile picture, there's a rounded token that calls attention to its being a "Consensus Post".

Highlight Consensus Posts

7

Depolarize divisive conversations

Civic Signal

Connect

:

Build bridges between groups

when to use

Reactive

Inference

7

Curb Polarization

A mockup of an intervention in which all posts have a delay built into them.

Delay-by-Default Posting

7

Give users a chance to reconsider their words before they go public

Civic Signal

Understand

:

Promote thoughtful conversation

when to use

Interactive

Inference

7

Improve Content

A mockup of an intervention. An image is blurred out behind a warning, which says the image in question could be questionable or inflammatory.

Hide Edge-case Content Behind Warning

7

Create middle ground between promoting content and banning it

Civic Signal

Welcome

:

Ensure user safety

when to use

Interactive

Inference

7

Reduce Toxicity

A mockup of a prompt that reminds users that "Headlines Don't Tell The Full Story".

Disallow Sharing of Unclicked Links

6

Cut down on the spread of misinformation

Civic Signal

Understand

:

Show reliable information

when to use

Interactive

Emergent

6

Safeguard Truth

A mockup of a prompt telling a user that "Your Comment Is Likely To Be Hurtful To Others" with an option to either edit the post or post it anyway.

Preliminary Flagging Before Posting

2

Reduce online harassment

Civic Signal

Welcome

:

Ensure user safety

when to use

Interactive

Convincing

2

Reduce Toxicity

A mockup of a prompt telling users that their posts will be subject to peer review. The user is invited to either edit their post or proceed to posting it.

Warning that Comments Will be Reviewed by Peers Before Publication

6

Reduce toxicity of comments

Civic Signal

Understand

:

Promote thoughtful conversation

when to use

Proactive

Emergent

6

Improve Content

A mockup of a react button. The platform's 'Thanks' icon is emphasized.

Thank You Button

3

Increase retention and make prosociality contagious

Civic Signal

Welcome

:

Encourage the humanization of others

when to use

Interactive

Likely

3

Retain Users

A prompt telling users that trolls may be there, but they are uncommon.

Message that Trolls are Outnumbered

2

Reassure community newcomers; make them resilient to trolling

Civic Signal

Connect

:

Cultivate Belonging

when to use

Proactive

Convincing

2

Retain Users

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