Restricted Social Media for Adolescent Mental Health

Recruiting at 1 trial location

Overseen By Kostadin Kushlev, PhD

Age: < 18

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Georgetown University

Disqualifiers: Severe developmental problems, severe mental illness, suicidal ideation

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

Duration: 3 months

500 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to explore whether limiting social media use affects the mental health of young teens. Researchers will compare two groups: one with no limits on social media and another with restricted access for three months. The study focuses on adolescents aged 11-14 who are receiving their first smartphone and whose parents consent to the trial. It seeks to determine if social media contributes to mental health challenges or if concerns are exaggerated.

As an unphased trial, this study offers a unique opportunity to contribute to understanding the impact of social media on youth mental health.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether participants need to stop taking their current medications.

What prior data suggests that restricted social media is safe for adolescent mental health?

Research has shown that reducing social media use can improve teens' mental health. Studies have found that using social media less can enhance self-esteem.

However, the safety and impact of social media on teens remain not fully understood. Some research suggests that social media can increase anxiety and depression due to online bullying or harmful content. Yet, there isn't enough evidence to determine its effects on young people conclusively.

Overall, using social media less appears manageable and can positively impact mental health. As research continues, staying informed about new findings is important. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the Restricted Social Media approach for adolescent mental health because it takes a novel angle by reducing engagement with social media apps, which are often linked to mental health challenges in teens. Unlike traditional treatments such as therapy or medication, this method directly addresses a potential environmental factor—social media usage—by temporarily blocking access. This may lead to insights on how screen time and online interactions impact mental well-being, offering a fresh perspective that could complement existing treatments like cognitive-behavioral therapy or antidepressants.

What evidence suggests that restricted social media might be an effective treatment for adolescent mental health?

Studies have shown that using social media links to increased mental distress, self-harming behaviors, and suicidal thoughts among teenagers. More than 11% of teens struggle to control their social media use, which can harm their mental health. Research suggests that reducing social media use can improve overall well-being. In this trial, participants in the "Restricted Social Media" arm will have social media apps blocked on their phones for three months to evaluate the impact on mental health. A review of several studies found that reducing social media use led to a small but meaningful improvement in life satisfaction. Programs that teach healthy social media habits also show promise in helping teens manage their mental health better. ^{1 2 3 5 6}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for adolescents aged 11-14 who are getting their first smartphone and can speak and read English well enough to complete surveys. Both parents or guardians must consent, and the adolescent must agree to participate.

Inclusion Criteria

You are an adolescent aged 18 or more years who consents to participate in the study and is proficient in both English reading and speaking.

My parents are buying me my first smartphone.

Both my parents/guardians agree I can join the study.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants are divided into two groups: one with unrestricted social media use and another with social media apps blocked for three months

3 months

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in mental health and social media usage patterns

3 months

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Restricted Social Media

Trial Overview The study investigates if limiting social media usage affects mental health in adolescents. It's a field experiment where participants' access to social media will be restricted to see how it influences their wellbeing.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Restricted Social Media Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

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

Group II: Naturalistic Social Media Active Control 1 Intervention

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

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Georgetown University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

355

Recruited

142,000+

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

Collaborator

Trials

3,007

Recruited

2,852,000+

National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Collaborator

Trials

2,896

Recruited

8,053,000+

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10476631/

The Impact of Social Media on the Mental Health ... Smartphone and social media use among teenagers relates to an increase in mental distress, self-harming behaviors, and suicidality.

2. who.int who.int/europe/news/item/25-09-2024-teens--screens-and-mental-health

Teens, screens and mental health More than 1 in 10 adolescents (11%) showed signs of problematic social media behaviour, struggling to control their use and experiencing ...

3. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666560325000714

The effects of social media restriction: Meta-analytic ... Overall, social media restriction significantly improved subjective well-being, ḡ = 0.17, 95 % CI = [0.08, 0.27], although effects varied by outcome (Table 1).

4. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40660050/

Problematic Social Media Use Interventions for Mental Health ... Programs that teach adolescents cognitive or behavioral strategies to engage with social media in a healthy manner appear to be more effective ...

5. hhs.gov hhs.gov/sites/default/files/sg-youth-mental-health-social-media-advisory.pdf

Social Media and Youth Mental Health It explores and describes the current evidence on the positive and negative impacts of social media on children and adolescents, some of the primary areas for ...

6. apa.org apa.org/topics/social-media-internet/health-advisory-adolescent-social-media-use

Health advisory on social media use in adolescence Research demonstrates that adolescents' exposure to online discrimination and hate predicts increases in anxiety and depressive symptoms, even after controlling ...