2. Applying Self-Exclusion to Digital Life: What is Digital Self-Exclusion?

Q: What is Digital Self-Exclusion?

A: Digital self-exclusion seeks to use the same principles of gambling self-exclusion programs and apply it to digital life. Some of the biggest hindrances to gambling self-exclusion are solved by the inherent qualities of our digital devices.

Put simply, digital self-exclusion allows a consumer to voluntarily and irrevocably block apps and websites of their choosing over a discrete period of time. Once blocked, there is no hack, no 4 digit code, no phone a friend that will allow the consumer access to those apps or websites.

Digital Self-Exclusion is:

  1. Voluntary – the individual alone is empowered with the right to self-exclude.
  2. Irrevocable – once self-exclusion is implemented, it cannot be revoked for the duration of the exclusion period. 
  3. Finite – consumers are empowered to choose the length of their self-exclusion period (6 months, 1 year, 5 years, etc.).
  4. Native – digital self-exclusion must be native to iOS and Android operating system for maximum benefit.