Smiley — ETUDES Center

Social Media Intervention for Online Victimized Youth (SMILEY) - R34 on Cyberbullying

Project Description

SMILEY is a social media-based chat program for teens ages 13-18 who have had negative online experiences (e.g., bullying, harassment, discrimination, etc.) and symptoms of depression. SMILEY is currently being tested by researchers to see if teens like using the chatbot. The researchers also want to know whether SMILEY can help teens better respond to and cope with negative online experiences and ultimately help teens have fewer of these experiences.

Project Background

Negative online experiences (referred to as online victimization in scientific literature; any digital communication that makes a person feel angry, sad, or scared) frequently occurs on social media and is directly linked to depression and suicidal thoughts and behaviors. These types of interactions peak during adolescence, and they are more commonly experienced by (i) Black and Hispanic adolescents compared to their White counterparts and (ii) LGBTQ+ adolescents compared to their heterosexual and cisgender peers. Early detection and intervention of negative online experiences can help improve adolescents’ mental health and prevent longer-term negative impacts.

Clinical Trials.gov number

NCT06835985

FAQs

What makes up SMILEY?

SMILEY has three main sections:

Providing teens with tips and tricks on how to create safe spaces for themselves on social media and how to find supportive information and resources online.
Teaching teens coping skills (e.g., distraction, self-soothing) that they can use to manage stress and other feelings after having negative online experiences.
Encouraging teens to reach out to trusted, personalized contacts (e.g., friends, family members, professionals, and crisis hotlines) that can give them support following negative online experiences.

What type of content is included in SMILEY?

SMILEY sends messages, images, videos, stories, and other multimedia resources to the user that convey the information of the three main sections.

Where is SMILEY hosted?

SMILEY is hosted on Meta’s Messenger app.

What even is a chatbot?

A chatbot is a computer program designed to simulate conversations among people.  SMILEY was designed in partnership with teens, so that is intended to be youth-friendly and engaging. It was also designed to have personalized responses that feel natural and supportive.

Does SMILEY use artificial intelligence?

SMILEY does NOT use artificial intelligence to send responses “on the fly.” ALL responses and content that SMILEY sends to the user are previously written and vetted by the research team.