Send Orders for Reprints to reprints@benthamscience.net Current Social Science, xxxx, x, RESEARCH ARTICLE 2772-316X/xx $65.00+.00 © xxxx Bentham Science Publishers 1 Eco-Apps for Change? Evaluating Mobile Apps to Promote and Support Sustainable Lifestyle Changes Mike Hynes 1,* and Frances Fahy 2 1 School of Political Science & Sociology, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland; 2 School of Geography, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland Abstract: Introduction: Mobile digital devices have developed mainly from voice communica- tions to always-on internet-accessing, mini-computers used universally across the generations. As the consumption and use of smartphones and digital devices and services grow exponentially, their pervasive acceptance has coincided with an increasing demand for mobile software applica- tions. Faced with the evidence of the deepening climate crisis, can mobile digital apps be better deployed in support of critical lifestyle and behavioral changes required to tackle the impacts of climate change? Applying a review of the existing literature on mobile apps and combining this with original data from new eco-app users affords us deeper insights into the effectiveness (or otherwise) and utility of apps in promoting lifestyle changes allowing us to better design, devel- op, and deploy these digital tools for environmental good. Methods: A comprehensive review of the literature on behavioural change and its links to digital ICTs is undertaken. This is followed by an analysis of quantitative data collected from just under 100 novel eco-app users to explore what they found useful, what they found troublesome, and what forced them to reject and uninstall such apps. Results: Findings identified an overcrowded marketplace as a barrier to success. Attrition is also an issue of concern in encouraging digital intervention lifestyle change, with some revealing they would uninstall apps if they affected the operation and running of their device, or if the services on offer were irrelevant to their needs at a particular time. Conclusion: The study concludes by outlining recommendations and guidelines for best practic- es in future digital interventions for promoting sustainable behavioural change specifically using mobile digital apps. A R T I C L E H I S T O R Y Received: July 12, 2024 Revised: August 16, 2024 Accepted: September 06, 2024 DOI: 10.2174/012772316X336211241204120909 Keywords: Eco-app, digital ICTs, smartphones, sustainable lifestyles, climate change. 1. INTRODUCTION Digital Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) have profound effects on the ways we work, live, and stay connected to family and friends. As lightweight portable smartphone and mobile device consumption and use intensi- fy globally, their pervasive adoption has coincided with an increasing demand for mobile software applications and the emergence of an ‘apps culture’ [1]. The mobile phone has transformed from principally voice communications to a multi-channel device to an internet-accessing always-on mini-computer, and in response, a sizable marketplace for applications (or apps for short) has developed. An app is a digital code set designed and written to carry out a specific *Address correspondence to this author at the School of Political Science & Sociology, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland; E-mail: mike.hynes@universityofgalway.ie task other than one relating to the basic operation of the smartphone or other mobile devices. With the growth of the smartphone market, mobile apps have become ubiquitous in emerging markets as well as in developed countries across the world. The global mobile internet-accessing population in 2021 stood at 4.28 billion, and mobile internet traffic as a share of total online traffic stood at 55.6 per cent [2]. The number of mobile apps available to users to install on their devices is just under 6 million 1 and the projected worldwide mobile app revenue by 2023 was set to rise to 935.2 billion USD, up from 461.7 billion USD in 2019. Adult smartphone users in the US spend nearly four hours daily on mobile in- ternet, and 88 per cent of this is on app use rather than sim- 1 The estimated figure for downloadable apps available from the Google Play Store was 3.15 million, Apple App Store 2.09 million, and Windows Store 669,000.