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Understanding How Social Media Affects the Teen Brain

This study, called Teen Brain Online II, is looking at how social media affects the brains of teenagers with depression. Researchers want to understand the brain's role in how social media use impacts emotional health. You would participate in tasks called "Rejection and Acceptance Feedback" while undergoing an fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging) scan, which measures brain activity. The study is looking for 60 participants between 13 and 17 years old who have mild to moderate-to-severe depression and use social media. The main goal is to see how different parts of the brain react to social rewards and threats during these tasks.

Study design
This is an interventional study with a planned enrollment of 60 participants. All participants will receive the same intervention, which involves completing two experimental tasks.
What's involved
You would complete a screening call, a virtual screening call with questionnaires, and then participate in fMRI and eye-tracking tasks approximately one month later. Some participants in Phase 2 will also complete web-based ecological momentary assessments (EMA) using their own smartphone.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Phase 2 participants will have a 3-month follow-up visit. Phase 1 participants will not have a 3-month follow-up visit.

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

NCT06817993

Teen Brain Online II: Understanding How Social Media Affects the Teen Brain

Recruiting
NAAges 13–17InterventionalBasic science
University of Pittsburgh
~60 participants
Updated 2026-05-06 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:Rejection and Acceptance Feedback

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Average Affective Salience Network Activation to Social Reward and Threat stimuli
Measured over During the MRI Scan/intervention (occurring once ~4 weeks into the study)

Conditions

Depression

Explore related trials

Depression

NCT06817993

Where you'd take part

This study runs at 1 site. They're the same protocol — you choose where, and that choice sets who your contact draft is addressed to.

  • University of Pittsburgh

    Pittsburgh, Pennsylvaniastudy coordinator listed

    Recruiting

Sites open and close at different times, so the status above is per site — it can differ from the study's overall status.

Study leadership

  • Jennifer S Silk, Ph.D · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · University of Pittsburgh
  • Helmet T Karim, Ph.D. · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · University of Pittsburgh

Who to contact

Jennifer S Silk, Ph.D
[email protected]
412-624-4428
Email the study team

Opens a ready-to-send draft in your own email app — review before sending.

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Between ages 13-17
Depression screening scores on the MFQ-C in the mild (MFQ = 12-25; N = 20) or moderate-to-severe range (MFQ ≥25; N=30)
Possess their own smartphone to complete web-based ecological momentary assessments (EMA) using WebDataExpress.
use social media apps (e.g. Instagram, twitter, reddit, discord, YouTube, etc.) at least 3 times a week, on average, per teen report

Exclusion

Presence of a serious neurological or medical condition, by parent report
Unable to read or speak English or cognitive impairment preventing ability to complete assessments.
Hearing impairment preventing ability to hear and understand instructions conveyed via headphones in the MRI scanner
Possible pregnancy, as determined by participant report
Presence of probable substance use disorder, as determined by participant report
Presence of MRI contraindications (e.g., dental braces, history of metallic foreign objects in body such as aneurysm clips or other devices or questionable history of metallic fragments, claustrophobia, or a weight of above 300 lbs)
Taking medications that affect the central nervous system other than antidepressants (stable dose allowed due to high rates of use among teens with depressive symptoms) or stimulants if required 36 hours before the scan.
Completion of Chatroom Interact Task or TBO Task in prior studies
Screening positive on the Autism Spectrum Screening Questionnaire, or screening positive on the Youth Inventory-4/ for a potential psychotic disorder or substance use disorder.

What this trial measures

  • Average Affective Salience Network Activation to Social Reward and Threat stimuliDuring the MRI Scan/intervention (occurring once ~4 weeks into the study)

    The investigators will measure neural activity (as measured by fMRI response) in regions within the Affective Salience network (ASN) in response to social threat and reward in the TBO and CHAT-I tasks. Average activation will be compared in each region between experiences of social reward, social threat, and neutral experiences as well as baseline.