How does social media impact adolescent mental health?

 
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Are you interested in helping us understand how social media use influences mental health during adolescence?

Join us in examining the "Causal Effects of Exposure to Social Media on Adolescent Mental Health,” a vital longitudinal study conducted at Georgetown University. Generously funded by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), this research aims to shed light on crucial aspects of adolescent mental health in relation to social media use.

 

You and your child may be eligible to participate in this study if you are the parent of a 10-14-year-old who is about to receive their first smartphone!

 

Benefits of Participation:

  • Receive compensation for your time and contribution to science ($200 per family)

  • Learn effective ways to implement parental controls

  • As a participant, your child's experiences with social media and mental well-being will help shape future interventions and policies. Your family will contribute to advancing scientific knowledge in a critical area affecting today's youth.

Eligibility Criteria:

  • Children aged 10-14 years old who are about to receive their first smartphone.

  • Parental consent (both parents if custody is shared)

  • The child’s willingness to participate in study activities.

  • No history of self-harm ideation, developmental diagnoses, or severe mental health problems.

What You Can Expect:

  • The study will monitor your child’s daily mental health and mobile device activity across approximately 6 months.

  • Your child may be assigned to either unrestricted or restricted social media access for 3 months.

  • $200 in compensation, distributed across four milestones, listed below.

    • Baseline survey ($25): completed before your child gets their phone. Each survey can take between 20-30 minutes each (parent & adolescent), but they get shorter as you progress through the study.

    • Phone set-up ($50): meet with our team to set up parental controls and study software on your child's phone; this can take between 15-30 minutes depending on group placement

    • 3-month survey ($50)

    • 6-month survey ($75)

 

Take advantage of this opportunity to make a difference in the lives of adolescents everywhere! Help us uncover the impact of social media on mental health. Your involvement could shape the future of adolescent mental health research.

 

For more information or to enroll your child, please click on “apply now” below or contact us at adolescentsocialmedia@georgetown.edu. 

 
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Frequently asked questions (FAQ)