Teenagers aged 12 to 15 are invited to take part in research to track their mental health alongside their social interactions.
The findings will help to uncover how online communication and the influence of the digital world affects youth mental health, experts say.
Socialising online
The University of Edinburgh study, part of the Generation Scotland project, will recruit 200 teenagers in Scotland to record their emotions and any associated social interactions – both online and offline – over a two-week period via a smartphone app.
It aims to capture the impact of interactions on social media platforms such as Snapchat, TikTok and Instagram, which play an increasingly significant role in the social lives of young people.
Many teenagers report engaging online as beneficial for their mental health and wellbeing, despite previous research indicating that online interactions may not offer the same opportunities for emotional and social growth as in-person interactions.
The young volunteers will be prompted to input information at various points during the day, providing real-time evidence on the experiences of loneliness for young people.
Young people interested in taking part in the study can sign up to take part via Generation Scotland. Details are available at www.gslonelinessteens.com.