Trigger-action Programming for Wellbeing: Insights from 6,590 iOS Shortcuts

Trigger-Action Programming (TAP) platforms allow users to personalize their digital ecosystems through the definition of trigger-action rules such as "if I'm leaving home, then turn the smart thermostat off." Yet, little is known about whether such a paradigm can be used to support users' wellbeing. To bridge this gap, we scraped 6,590 trigger-action programs from iOS Shortcuts, and analyzed the dataset to understand what aspects of their wellbeing users are already programming and what opportunities remain untapped. Findings show that users are only capturing a fraction of this opportunity, with a majority of wellbeing-related programs targeting health and physical exercise. To shed light on an under-exploited use case, we showcase two interventions for digital self-control developed through iOS Shortcuts, highlighting challenges and opportunities to use TAP as a viable option to improve existing digital habits and self-regulate technology use, thus mitigating the negative effects of excessive digital engagement.