0
0
University of South Florida to Track the Long-Term Effects of Digital Media on Wellness Through 2050
The University of South Florida (USF) has announced the launch of a groundbreaking research initiative aimed at studying the long-term effects of digital media use on young people’s well-being. Dubbed the Life in Media Survey, the study will follow the lives of thousands of young people, starting at ages 11 to 13, over the next 25 years. Researchers aim to uncover how smartphones, social media, and other forms of digital media shape mental health, behaviors, and overall wellness from childhood into adulthood.
While many studies have explored the impacts of digital media on children and adolescents, this is the first to track individuals over such an extended period, gathering data every six months. The results will provide invaluable insights for parents, educators, healthcare professionals, and policymakers about the role digital media plays in the development and well-being of young people.
Justin Martin, the Eleanor Poynter Jamison Chair in Media Ethics & Press Policy at USF St. Petersburg and the study’s lead researcher, explained the significance of the project. “We have research from other fields that tracks people across decades, looking at health or work-life balance. We don’t have that yet for digital media use and wellness,” he said. “We know that digital media affect people, especially children, in meaningful and often adverse ways. It’s crucial that we study these effects over a lifetime.”
The study will track a wide range of digital media behaviors, including social media use, gaming, binge-watching, podcast listening, music streaming, and news consumption. Topics such as cyberbullying, media addiction, parental controls, and the growing influence of artificial intelligence will also be explored.
One of the central aims is to understand how digital media impacts sleep quality, mental health, and overall development in young people, with a particular focus on anxiety, depression, and other critical health indicators. “Experiences during childhood and adolescence can influence health outcomes later in life. This study will help us understand how digital media use impacts sleep and mental health, providing a framework for future interventions,” said Chighaf Bakour, a USF associate professor of epidemiology.
The Life in Media Survey will gather data from approximately 1,500 Florida youth in November to establish baseline findings. These data will then be analyzed to identify trends and patterns. The Harris Poll, a global market research firm, is partnering with USF to ensure the survey reaches participants and gains parental consent before data collection begins. Results from this initial cohort will be published in 2025, with a broader national study to follow, involving up to 9,000 early adolescents across the U.S.
This research sets itself apart from previous studies by focusing on a broader range of digital media activities and starting with children as young as 11, before many have acquired their first smartphone. “This age range is key because it’s typically when kids first start to engage with personal devices but are still new to the world of digital media,” said Stephen Song, assistant professor in USF’s Department of Journalism & Digital Communication. “Tracking this early phase allows us to see behavior changes as children grow and adapt to technology.”
Unlike past studies that have predominantly focused on teenagers aged 13-17, the USF study includes younger adolescents—an age group that has been underrepresented in digital media research. It will also examine how time spent on devices relates to other aspects of adolescent life, such as extracurricular activities and peer interactions.
Wendy Rote, a USF psychology professor, emphasized that the long-term nature of the study will allow researchers to better understand the complex relationships between digital media use and mental health. “Is social media use linked to higher rates of depression, or does it reflect a broader trend where time online replaces time spent on activities like sports or face-to-face socialization?” Rote explained. “By following the same individuals over many years, we’ll be able to identify broad patterns and trends in their media use and examine those over time.”
In addition to tracking media use and its effects, the study will also assess media literacy, a key aspect of navigating the digital landscape. USF is collaborating with the Poynter Institute for Media Studies’ MediaWise initiative, which empowers young people with essential skills for critical media consumption, including understanding the impact of artificial intelligence and digital misinformation.
“We’re in the midst of a major technological revolution, and this research will provide a vital framework for understanding how young people are living their lives with technology,” said Sean Marcus, interactive learning designer for MediaWise. “Media and media literacy are evolving rapidly, and this study will allow us to keep pace with those changes.”
As digital media continues to shape the lives of young people in profound ways, this study promises to provide a much-needed roadmap for understanding its long-term consequences. With data collected across decades, the Life in Media Survey could become a cornerstone in research on how technology influences individual development and well-being throughout the lifespan.
