Does Social Media Impact Adolescent Mental Health?

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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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.

Official Title
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Causal Effects of Exposure to Social Media on Adolescent Mental Health

Conditions
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Mental Health

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Restricted Social Media


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: is an adolescent who is between the ages of 11 and 14; is an adolescent whose parents have decided to buy them their first smartphone; is an adolescent both of whose parents/guardians consent for them to be in the study; 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: is an adolescent who has severe developmental problems (e.g., autism, severe language delay); is an adolescent who is currently or has ever been diagnosed with severe or moderately severe mental illness; is an adolescent who is currently or has ever experienced suicidal ideation.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 11 Years
Maximum Age: 14 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Basic Science
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Crossover Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| No Intervention: Naturalistic Social Media<br>In this control condition, participants will have no study-imposed restrictions on social media use. | |
| Experimental: Restricted Social Media<br>Participants will have social media apps on their phones blocked for three months. | Behavioral: Restricted Social Media<br>* Participants (N = 500) will be randomly assigned to either have no study-imposed restrictions on social media use (naturalistic social media condition) or have no access to social media apps on their phones (restricted social media condition). This manipulation will last three months, after which both groups will have no study-imposed restrictions on social media for three more months.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale (RCADS-25): Total Score | The average score varies between 0 and 4, with higher scores indicating a worse outcome. | Baseline, three months, and six months | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale (RCADS-25): Depression Subscale | The average score varies between 0 and 4, with higher scores indicating a worse outcome. | Baseline, three months, and six months | 
| Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale (RCADS-25): Anxiety Subscale | The average score varies between 0 and 4, with higher scores indicating a worse outcome. | Baseline, three months, and six months | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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social media, mental health, depression, anxiety