Designing a Trauma-Informed Safety by Design Framework for Nonconsensual Intimate Image Removal Platforms: A 2-Phase...

Area of Science:

• Human-Computer Interaction
• Psychology
• Cybersecurity

Background:

• Nonconsensual intimate image (NCII) removal platforms are crucial for victims but often lack trauma-sensitive design.
• Existing Safety by Design principles lack specific guidance for trauma-affected users.
• Usability heuristics do not inherently address the psychological needs of trauma survivors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a cohesive trauma-informed design framework for NCII removal platforms.
• To integrate trauma-informed care principles with usability heuristics under Safety by Design.
• To enhance the usability and protective qualities of NCII removal platforms for trauma-affected users.

Main Methods:

• A 2-phase sequential exploratory design using a case study of an NCII removal platform.
• Development of trauma-differentiated personas and user journey mapping to identify pain points.
• Qualitative analysis of a focus group (n=8) evaluating persona plausibility and framework effectiveness.

Main Results:

• A 6-guideline trauma-informed design framework was synthesized: emotional scaffolding, process transparency, self-pacing, trust signals, context-aware support, and grounding tools.
• Personas were deemed plausible, and the framework was perceived as emotionally safer and potentially more usable.
• Pain points varied by trauma level, highlighting the need for differentiated design approaches.

Conclusions:

• Integrating trauma principles into UX evaluation is key for addressing psychological barriers on NCII platforms.
• The developed framework offers a foundation for trauma-sensitive design in this domain.
• Findings provide preliminary evidence of plausibility and acceptability, requiring further validation with victim-survivors.