Does Social Media Impact Adolescent Mental Health?

Georgetown University

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: Mental Health

Treatments: Behavioral: Restricted Social Media

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other; NIH

Identifiers

NCT06049888

1R01MH135467

Details and patient eligibility

About

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.

Enrollment: 500 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 10 to 14 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

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.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Basic Science

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Crossover Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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500 participants in 2 patient groups

Naturalistic Social Media

No Intervention group

Description:

In this control condition, participants will have no study-imposed restrictions on social media use.

Restricted Social Media

Experimental group

Description:

Participants will have social media apps on their phones blocked for three months.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Restricted Social Media