Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 27, 2026

Metal Corrosion and the Efficiency of Corrosion Inhibitors in Less Conductive Media
Published on: November 3, 2018
The case against efficiency: friction in social media
Joshua Garland1, Joe Bak-Coleman2,3, Susan Benesch4
1Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ USA.
Abstract:
Social media platforms frequently prioritize efficiency to maximize ad revenue and user engagement, often sacrificing deliberation, trust, and reflective, purposeful cognitive engagement in the process. This manuscript examines the potential of friction-design choices that intentionally slow user interactions-as an alternate approach. We present a case against efficiency as the dominant paradigm on social media and advocate for a complex systems approach to understanding and analyzing friction. Drawing from interdisciplinary literature, real-world examples, and industry experiments, we highlight the potential for friction to mitigate issues like polarization, disinformation, and toxic content without resorting to censorship. We propose a state space representation of friction to establish a multidimensional framework and language for analyzing the diverse forms and functions through which friction can be implemented. Additionally, we propose several experimental designs to examine the impact of friction on system dynamics, user behavior, and information ecosystems, each designed with complex systems solutions and perspectives in mind. Our case against efficiency underscores the critical role of friction in shaping digital spaces, challenging the relentless pursuit of efficiency and exploring the potential of thoughtful slowing.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Social Scripts
Social Proof
Kinetic Friction
Types of Friction Problems
The first type of dry friction problem involves situations where there is no apparent impending motion....
Friction: Problem Solving
Initially, a visual representation of the...
Social Traps

