Remote Youth Mental Health Research Study
Researchers at Georgetown University are conducting a study on how social media access affects adolescent mental health for youth ages 10–14 who are receiving their first smartphone.
Fast Facts
Parent of a child ages
10-14
Your child will receive a
free phone at the start
of the study
Compensation up to $200
Conducted remotely
Study Background
Scientists are working to better understand how social media exposure impacts the mental health and well-being of young adolescents.
Smartphones and social media have become a central part of many young people’s lives. Parents, educators, and policymakers often worry about how these technologies may influence adolescent mental health, but much of the current evidence comes from observational studies rather than controlled experiments. This means researchers still have limited causal evidence about whether social media itself improves or harms well-being.
Researchers at Georgetown University, are conducting an experimental study to examine the effects of social media access on adolescents who are getting their first smartphone. By randomly assigning some participants to have access to social media and others to temporarily restrict it, the study aims to better understand both the potential benefits and risks of mobile social media use. Findings from this research may help families, educators, and policymakers make more informed
Study Background
Scientists are working to better understand how social media exposure impacts the mental health and well-being of young adolescents.
Smartphones and social media have become a central part of many young people’s lives. Parents, educators, and policymakers often worry about how these technologies may influence adolescent mental health, but much of the current evidence comes from observational studies rather than controlled experiments. This means researchers still have limited causal evidence about whether social media itself improves or harms well-being.
Researchers at Georgetown University, are conducting an experimental study to examine the effects of social media access on adolescents who are getting their first smartphone. By randomly assigning some participants to have access to social media and others to temporarily restrict it, the study aims to better understand both the potential benefits and risks of mobile social media use. Findings from this research may help families, educators, and policymakers make more informed
Additional Information
This study is being conducted to better understand how access to social media on smartphones affects adolescent mental health. Researchers hope to identify both the potential benefits and risks of social media use among young teens.
Eligibility criteria is as follows (this can be reworded slightly for clarity as needed):
- Is an adolescent who is between the ages of 10 and 14
Is an adolescent whose parents have decided to allow them to have their first smartphone
All parents/guardians must consent for them to be in the study
Parent and adolescent must speak and read English sufficiently to complete surveys and provide informed consent.
Adolescent must voluntarily assent to be in the study
Before enrolling in the study, you and your child will attend a brief virtual interview with a study coordinator, which will take approximately 30 minutes.
unpaid
$25
smartphone provided
$50
$50
$75
You will receive $200 across four major time points.
A study phone will be provided at the beginning of the study; participants may keep it upon successful completion.
This phone will come prepared with study software. Parents will need to add this phone to their phone plan (or activate it in some way) to participate. I.e., the phone needs to get connected to a service provider. Adolescents will be permitted to keep the phone upon successful completion of the study at 6 months. If you already have a phone for your child, we will provide them with an Apple Watch instead.
There is no cost for you to participate in our research study.