We strive to better understand how social media influences young people’s peer and family relationships, physical and mental health, and overall well-being, using novel methodologies that center the experience of the individual and move away from a “one-size-fits-all” mentality.
Because the tech and media industry holds the power to change how products are designed, delivered, and marketed to youth, one of the goals of our work is to advance child-centered design strategies that lead to healthier, safer, more positive experiences for young users.
We work closely with the Clinic for Interactive Media and Internet Disorders (CIMAID) to better understand the characteristics and risk factors of problematic interactive media use (PIMU) in order to develop intervention strategies for clinicians and the pediatric healthcare industry at large.
Since access to media starts at an early age, and can lay the foundation for media habits and health outcomes throughout a child’s development, we explore how the content and delivery mechanisms of various types of media affect children’s and teens’ experiences and outcomes.