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Does Social Media Impact Adolescent Mental Health?
NCT06049888 · Georgetown University
In plain English
Click the button to translate this study into plain language — what it is, who qualifies, and what participation looks like.
Official title
Causal Effects of Exposure to Social Media on Adolescent Mental Health
About this study
The mental health of adolescents in the United States has seen a steep decline since 2011, roughly coinciding with the increasing popularity of social media and smartphones. But does social media have a causal impact on the mental health of adolescents or are concerns about the effect of social media on kids a form of public hysteria? In this study, the investigators will conduct the first field experiment in 11-14-year-olds to examine whether, how, and for whom social media harms mental health.
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
1. is an adolescent who is between the ages of 10 and 14;
2. is an adolescent whose parents have decided to buy them their first smartphone;
3. is an adolescent both of whose parents/guardians consent for them to be in the study;
4. is an adolescent who assents to be in the study; 5) is an adolescent who speaks and reads English sufficiently to complete surveys and provide informed consent.
Exclusion Criteria:
1. is an adolescent who has severe developmental problems (e.g., autism, severe language delay);
2. is an adolescent who is currently or has ever been diagnosed with severe or moderately severe mental illness;
3. is an adolescent who is currently or has ever experienced suicidal ideation.
Study design
Enrollment target: 500 participants
Allocation: randomized
Masking: none
Age groups: child
Timeline
Starts: 2024-09-29
Estimated completion: 2028-02
Last updated: 2025-06-17
Interventions
Behavioral: Restricted Social Media
Primary outcomes
- • Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale (RCADS-25): Total Score (Baseline, three months, and six months)
Sponsor
Georgetown University · other
With: National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Contacts & investigators
ContactKostadin Kushlev, PhD · contact · kk1199@georgetown.edu · 804-585-4385
All locations (1)
Georgetown UniversityRecruiting
Washington D.C., District of Columbia, United States