Instagram game aims to curb college binge drinking
NCT ID NCT06576011
First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 26, 2026
Summary
This study tested a gamified social media campaign called "2 College Truths and 1 Lie" to reduce drinking among first-year college students. The campaign uses Instagram ads to correct overestimates of how much peers drink, which can influence personal drinking. 392 students were randomly assigned to play the game, see a static ad, or receive no intervention, and their drinking was tracked over 9 months.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Gamified social norms marketing campaign delivered via Instagram
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could offer a low-cost, scalable way to prevent risky drinking among new college students.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small pilot study with 392 students at one university, so results may not apply elsewhere. The effect may be modest or short-lived.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Loyola Marymount University
Los Angeles, California, 90045, United States
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