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Social Media Withdrawal in Pregnancy: Effects on Maternal Mental Health and Misinformation
Sponsor: Massachusetts General Hospital
Summary
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if restricting social media use with a hardware device can improve mental health and well-being during pregnancy. It will also learn about the feasibility and acceptability of this approach. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Does restricting social media use lower the amount of time participants spend on social media? * Does restricting social media use improve depression, anxiety, well-being, loneliness, sleep, and physical activity? Researchers will compare participants who use a device (Brick™) that restricts social media apps to participants receiving usual care to see if the device improves social media use and mental health outcomes. Participants will: * Complete surveys about mood, sleep, and social media use, and wear/carry a smartphone app that tracks activity and sleep * Use the Brick device to restrict social media apps for 2 weeks, or continue their usual phone use * Complete follow-up surveys at the end of the 4-week study
Official title: SWIPE LEFT: Social Media Withdrawal in Pregnancy - Effects on Maternal Mental Health and Misinformation
Key Details
Gender
FEMALE
Age Range
18 Years - Any
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment
70
Start Date
2026-10-01
Completion Date
2027-12
Last Updated
2026-09-10
Healthy Volunteers
Yes
Conditions
Interventions
Brick device
A hardware-based device that restricts access to user-selected social media applications by requiring physical interaction with the device to unlock them. Participants in the intervention arm will use the device continuously to block access to selected social media apps during a 2-week intervention period, following a 2-week baseline monitoring period. The device is not an FDA-regulated medical device and functions as a consumer hardware tool. Participants may voluntarily reverse the intervention (unlock the device) at any point during the study.
Locations (1)
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, Massachusetts, United States