Psychologist and Associate Professor Aida Bikic, from the Research Unit for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the University of Southern Denmark and Odense University Hospital, has received DKK 4.3 million from the Tryg Foundation for a new research project investigating social media and young people’s brains.
In recent years, the debate over screen time among children and young people has intensified. Some see screen time as a way to relax, while others worry that spending hours watching short-form videos could affect concentration and cognitive function.
However, there is still limited robust evidence on whether and how social media platforms affect the brain.
Social media is a huge part of many young people’s everyday lives, but we still know surprisingly little about how the pace and format of content affect brain function. In this project, we want to investigate this using objective measurements rather than relying solely on questionnaires and self-reported information.
Aida Bikic, Psychologist and Associate Professor, Research Unit for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the University of Southern Denmark and Odense University Hospital
The study involve 120 young people aged 15 to 17. Researchers measure brain activity, eye movements and physiological stress responses as participants watch short, fast-paced videos and slower-paced media content.
The aim is to determine whether fast-paced content increases cognitive load, reduces concentration and increases stress.
