Lead supervisor:
Dr Livia Tomova 
Other supervisor(s):
- Dr Amy Paine
Start date: October 2024
Award: General
Subject Pathway:
Psychology
Thematic Cluster:
Language, Learning and Behaviour Cluster
Impact of digital social interactions on the adolescent brain and well-being
Background
Adolescence is a critical period of social, psychological, and physiological changes, but also a crucial time of vulnerability to mental health issues. As mental health problems have drastically increased in adolescents over the past decade, concerns have risen regarding the impact of social media (SM) on adolescents' brains and well-being. Indeed, adolescents are known to be among the first and most ardent users of SM, and SM use has been linked to brain function modifications in adolescents, for example in the domain of reward processing. However, few studies have assessed the effects of aversive SM interactions on the brain. Furthermore, because there is high heterogeneity in the adolescent population, studying the interindividual factors moderating the relationship between SM use and well-being is important.
Potential applications and benefits of the project.
With the rise of technology use, there is a growing concern about the effects of SM use on social development and well-being in adolescents. This work aims to take a multidisciplinary approach to studying the impact of SM use on cognition, brain functioning, and well-being. This project will have the potential to provide important novel understanding of 1) the impact of digital social interactions on brain functioning, and 2) the interindividual factors mediating vulnerability to social media use. Eventually, we hope that these insights will help inform the ongoing discussions about age-related social media limitations. Additionally, we aim to disseminate these findings to the wider public, especially adolescents, through school talks.