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Addictive Platforms

Author

Listed:
  • Shota Ichihashi

    (Bank of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0G9, Canada; Department of Economics, Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario K7L 3N6, Canada)

  • Byung-Cheol Kim

    (Department of Economics, Finance, and Legal Studies, Culverhouse College of Business, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35487)

Abstract

We study competition for consumer attention in which platforms can sacrifice service quality for attention. A platform can choose the “addictiveness” of its service. A more addictive platform yields consumers a lower utility of participation but a higher marginal utility of allocating attention. We provide conditions under which increased competition can harm consumers by encouraging platforms to offer low-quality services. In particular, if attention is scarce, increased competition reduces the quality of services because business-stealing incentives induce platforms to increase addictiveness. Restricting consumers’ platform usage may decrease addictiveness and improve consumer welfare. A platform’s ability to charge for its service can also decrease addictiveness.

Suggested Citation

  • Shota Ichihashi & Byung-Cheol Kim, 2023. "Addictive Platforms," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 69(2), pages 1127-1145, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:inm:ormnsc:v:69:y:2023:i:2:p:1127-1145
    DOI: 10.1287/mnsc.2022.4392
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    digital platforms; platform competition; attention; addiction;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D40 - Microeconomics - - Market Structure, Pricing, and Design - - - General
    • L51 - Industrial Organization - - Regulation and Industrial Policy - - - Economics of Regulation

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