Social media ban on teen phones tested in landmark experiment
NCT ID NCT06049888
First seen Jul 08, 2026 · Last updated Jul 09, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study investigates whether restricting access to social media apps on smartphones for three months can improve anxiety and depression in adolescents aged 10 to 14. Half of the 500 participants will have no social media apps on their phones, while the other half will use them as usual. After three months, both groups will have no restrictions for another three months. The goal is to see if social media directly harms teen mental health.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- restricted social media (no access to social media apps on phone)
- What this could lead to
- If social media is shown to harm mental health, this could guide families and policymakers on screen time limits for teens.
- What could go wrong
- This is an early field experiment with 500 participants; results may not apply to all teens, and the restriction may not be followed perfectly.
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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
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Study contacts
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Contact
Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••
Locations
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Georgetown University
RECRUITINGWashington D.C., District of Columbia, 20057, United States
Contact Email: •••••@•••••
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