| NSF Org: |
TI Translational Impacts |
| Recipient: |
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| Initial Amendment Date: | March 16, 2022 |
| Latest Amendment Date: | March 16, 2022 |
| Award Number: | 2203209 |
| Award Instrument: | Standard Grant |
| Program Manager: |
Ruth Shuman
rshuman@nsf.gov (703)292-2160 TI Translational Impacts TIP Directorate for Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships |
| Start Date: | April 1, 2022 |
| End Date: | September 30, 2022 (Estimated) |
| Total Intended Award Amount: | $50,000.00 |
| Total Awarded Amount to Date: | $50,000.00 |
| Funds Obligated to Date: |
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| History of Investigator: |
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| Recipient Sponsored Research Office: |
601 UNIVERSITY DR SAN MARCOS TX US 78666-4684 (512)245-2314 |
| Sponsor Congressional District: |
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| Primary Place of Performance: |
601 University Drive San Marcos TX US 78666-4686 |
| Primary Place of
Performance Congressional District: |
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| Unique Entity Identifier (UEI): |
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| Parent UEI: |
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| NSF Program(s): | I-Corps |
| Primary Program Source: |
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| Program Reference Code(s): |
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| Program Element Code(s): |
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| Award Agency Code: | 4900 |
| Fund Agency Code: | 4900 |
| Assistance Listing Number(s): | 47.041, 47.084 |
ABSTRACT
The broader impact/commercial potential of this I-Corps project is the development of a diagnostic tool that uses analytics on self-reported emotional state as well as content engagement and time spent on social media sites to create personalized social media interventions for users. The proposed technology also may gather aggregate level data to understand what the thresholds are for social media engagement and emotional well-being. Currently, more than 90 percent of teens and young adults are social media users, and nearly half report being online almost constantly. Research correlates time spent on smartphones with high levels of loneliness, anxiety, and depression. The proposed technology aims to mitigate the effects of ?always on? social media culture. Current products that address this issue include apps that allow the user to briefly lock themselves out of their phones to limit screen time. These apps provide short-term solutions to a deeper problem ? a culture of social media that demands hypervigilance and constant engagement. Social media is designed to be an immersive environment where users ?lose time? mindlessly scrolling for hours on end. The proposed technology aims to provide a long-term, sustainable solution to social media dependence.
This I-Corps project is based on the development of a diagnostic tool to promote mindfulness around social media use. The proposed technology is designed to: 1) raise awareness of unconscious social media habits, including time spent on these sites and socio-emotional triggers that prompt clicking on social media apps; 2) stimulating reflection of how time spent on social media affects emotional well-being; and 3) providing momentary interventions in screen time through suggestions for non-screen related brain breaks. The goal is to make visible unconscious, routinized behaviors related to technology devices and social media. The proposed technology addresses the harms of excessive screen time and social comparison on social media, especially among youth, a problem that has been well-documented in the research literature. This idea emerged out of findings from NSF research suggesting that youth struggle to self-regulate screen time and a break in routine may serve as a powerful catalyst for self-awareness of how social media affects self-esteem and emotional well-being. Numerous studies have correlated depression, anxiety and low self-esteem with time spent on social media among youth. Yet, few researchers offer solutions and there are no widely used interventions at this time.
This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
PROJECT OUTCOMES REPORT
Disclaimer
This Project Outcomes Report for the General Public is displayed verbatim as submitted by the Principal Investigator (PI) for this award. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this Report are those of the PI and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation; NSF has not approved or endorsed its content.
Our findings expand knowledge about the culture and demographics associated with social media dependence as well as potential pathways for applying that knowledge to develop a solution. Social science research on social media dependence focuses on youth. However, findings from our I-Corps project suggest that adults who are busy professionals and working parents struggle with social media dependence as well. Our research found youth to be aware of their dependence, but uninterested in solving the problem. However, our findings suggest that adults are much more motivated to address their social media dependence, citing lack of privacy, toxic culture of social media, and feeling powerless to stop scrolling through content as their biggest concerns. Overall, this demographic expressed a desire for meaningful connections in social media, feeling in control of their social media use, and having more time offline to spend with family and friends and pursue other interests. This research drew from knowledge and techniques in the disciplines of business, marketing, technology, psychology and anthropology to develop a model for addressing social media dependence among busy professionals and working parents who felt unable to control the time they spent on these sites and frustrated by the negative social and emotional effects of social media.
Last Modified: 01/17/2023
Modified by: Nicole L Taylor
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