Simplifying the Stock Market: Developing an App for Market Education; Government Regulation Recommendations for Addictive Mobile App Design and Mental Health Impacts

Technical Paper Abstract
This paper details a proposed app solution to existing mobile stock market trading apps that is easy to use and simple for paper trading. The stock market can be a daunting concept for many due to its complexity and inherent risks. To educate beginners, I developed EpochTrade, an iOS application that allows users to practice stock trading in a risk-free environment through paper trading. Built using Swift and SwiftUI, the app integrates real-time financial data via the Twelve Data API, allowing users to simulate stock trades with virtual currency. The project follows a Model-View-ViewModel (MVVM) architecture and uses Firebase for user authentication and database management. EpochTrade distinguishes itself from other platforms by offering a sleek, intuitive mobile interface tailored specifically to beginners. Key features include real-time stock quotes, user profile management, and up-to-date market news. A major challenge was identifying a cost-effective and reliable financial API capable of providing continuously updated stock information. During testing, the app successfully executed 1,000 simulated trades with real-time price updates, ensuring a seamless user experience. While user testing demonstrated that the app performs simulated trades efficiently, users expressed interest in improved stock charting capabilities and a portfolio-sharing feature. Moving forward, the app will incorporate educational tutorials, advanced data visualization tools, and social features to foster a learning community. EpochTrade has potential applications in high school finance courses and investment clubs, making it a valuable tool for financial literacy. I will continue to work on additional features by leveraging additional APIs, releasing a new interface, and implementing trading tutorials and learning modules for beginners.

STS Research Paper Abstract
This paper investigates the ethical and societal implication of addictive mobile application design and calls for government regulation within the mobile app space. Features such as infinite scrolling, push notifications, and personalized content algorithms have greatly contributed to phone dependency. These tools are engineered to maximize engagement time, leveraging behavioral psychology principles like variable-ratio reinforcement to keep users continuously engaged without conscious intent. These design strategies, while effective for user retention, often exploit psychological vulnerabilities, resulting in adverse effects including anxiety, depression, and social isolation. Phone addiction further interferes with daily activities such as driving, working, and learning. In addition to affecting concentration and safety, phone addiction has been linked to increased rates of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) symptoms. Connecting addictions across the gambling and tobacco industries and their respective regulatory precedents, this paper explores whether mobile apps should be similarly regulated to protect public health for the greater good. This paper utilizes a thematic structure and applies a utilitarian ethical framework to assess how the benefits and harms of mobile technology are distributed across society. The paper proposes a multifaceted approach to regulation that includes age-based restrictions on addictive features, algorithmic transparency, limits on non-essential push notifications, and the elimination of manipulative user interface patterns. It also recommends the development of an ethical certification system to inform users of an app’s addiction risk, intended to encourage companies to adopt responsible design practices. While acknowledging concerns about censorship, innovation, and individual responsibility, the research concludes government intervention is nonetheless essential to mitigate the growing adverse mental health effects from mobile apps.

Comparisons between the Papers
Although distinct in their individual purposes, my STS research paper and my CS Technical Paper address the intersection of technological design and user experience. The most significant similarity between the two is that in my CS Capstone mobile application intentionally avoids addictive features and focuses on positive, educational tools. One criticism I found during my research of mobile apps is that newer trading apps, such as RobinHood, gamify the trading space. This gamification of trading has drawn criticism from regulatory bodies such as the SEC and FTC, as well as from financial advisors, for encouraging impulsive behavior and undermining informed decision-making. Robinhood, a theoretical competitor to my app, exemplifies this trend by immersing users, particularly beginners, into real trading environments through flashy incentives and reward-based mechanisms. These features often appeal to inexperienced traders who may not fully understand the risks involved. In contrast, EpochTrade offers a risk-free, educational paper trading platform designed to help users build financial literacy and confidence before engaging in real markets. My app enables the user to understand the risks of trading stocks and options before trading with their own real money.
Another major link between the two papers is the emphasis on ethical responsibility in user interface design. In the STS paper, I argue that companies often optimize for engagement at the cost of user autonomy and well-being. In developing EpochTrade, I deliberately avoided features known to be addictive, such as autoplaying news feeds or intrusive push notifications. Instead, I focused on delivering a clean, distraction-free interface that supports learning and encourages mindful interaction, especially for novice users. This alignment demonstrates how ethical principles discussed in STS research can be actively applied in technical design work.