Digital Nudging in Information Systems: A Systematic Review of Mechanisms, Applications and Effects

Abstract

Digital nudging refers to the use of interface design elements to influence users’ decisions and behaviors in digital environments without restricting their freedom of choice. Although digital nudging has attracted growing attention in information systems (IS) research, quantitative empirical evidence remains fragmented across theories, application domains, nudge mechanisms, and outcome measures. This study systematically reviews 66 quantitative empirical studies on digital nudging published in IS outlets between 2016 and 2025. The findings indicate that literature is dominated by online experiments, low- and moderate-stakes decision contexts, crowd-worker and student samples, and behavioral trace data, with sustainability and e-commerce emerging as the most common application domains. The review further reveals that decision information and decision structure nudges have received the greatest research attention, whereas decision assistance nudges remain underexamined, particularly as standalone interventions. Based on these findings, the review identifies six research avenues to support the continued development of digital nudging research.