Teens to halve social media in bold mental health experiment
NCT ID NCT07429357
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study tests a program called REWIRE for teens aged 12-17 who feel anxious or depressed and use social media over 3 hours daily. The program aims to cut social media use by about half and replace it with positive offline activities like hobbies or time with friends. Researchers will compare this group to one that only learns about social media health tips, tracking changes in mood, brain function, and daily habits over 12 weeks.
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Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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About 220 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Expected to start
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Mar 2026
An estimate. Start dates often move.
- Expected to finish
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Dec 2029
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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12 to 17 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Own a smartphone. * Use social media for \>3 hours/day. * Are aged 12-17 years. * Are experiencing feelings of anxiety or depression. * Have a caregiver who is able and willing to participate in the study alongside them. * Have the ability to communicate in English. * Must sign and date the informed consent form, or provide assent and have a Substitute Decision Maker provide informed consent Exclusion Criteria: * Own a smartphone. * Use their smartphone for \>1 hour/day. * Are accompanying a youth participant enrolled in the study. * Have the ability to communicate in English. * Are willing to sign informed consent forms.
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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.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The places running it
1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.
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The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
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A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario
Ottawa, Ontario, K1H 8L1, Canada
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