Social Media: Measuring Effects and Mitigating Downsides

Project Information

SOME

Grant agreement ID: 101116966

DOI

10.3030/101116966

EC signature date 8 November 2023

Start date 1 December 2023

End date 30 November 2028

Funded under

• European Research Council (ERC)

Total cost

€ 1 494 625,00

EU contribution

€ 1 494 625,00

Coordinated by

UNIVERSITA COMMERCIALE LUIGI BOCCONI
Italy

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - SOME (Social Media: Measuring Effects and Mitigating Downsides)

Reporting period: 2023-12-01 to 2026-05-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Social media platforms have become a central channel through which people obtain information, form political views, and spend leisure time. Yet many users experience an online environment shaped by frictions (it is easy to drift into habits rather than make deliberate choices), imperfect information (people may misjudge the reliability of sources), and content dynamics that can worsen stress, anxiety, or social comparison. These features raise important societal questions: How do digital environments influence what citizens believe and consume? Can low-cost, scalable changes improve people’s information diets and well-being?
This project studies these questions using tools from economics and behavioral science. Its overall objective is to generate rigorous evidence on (i) how digital environments affect information consumption and related outcomes, and (ii) which “light-touch” interventions can help users align online experiences with their own preferences and well-being. The project combines field experiments, survey measurement, and behavioral data to identify underlying mechanisms and to test practical solutions that could be deployed at scale. By producing credible causal evidence and designing interventions that are easy to implement, the project aims to inform public debate and support the development of user-centered approaches to healthier and more trustworthy online environments.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

During the reporting period, the project advanced along multiple research strands.
A major achievement is the completion of a large-scale field experiment on Facebook examining why people follow and consume the news sources they do. The study shows that two forces are especially important: behavioral frictions (many users rarely revisit or actively manage the news pages they follow) and information frictions (many users hold inaccurate beliefs about the trustworthiness of news sources). Building on these insights, the project developed and tested a simple “re-optimization” tool that helps users review and adjust the news pages they follow in a streamlined way, optionally complemented by accessible information about outlet reliability. The results indicate that the intervention can meaningfully improve the composition of users’ news-following choices and that these changes translate into measurable differences in subsequent news consumption.
In another strand of this project, I prepared a randomized study focused on the timing of children’s first smartphone acquisition. The study design is finalized and a pilot is imminent, with the full rollout planned within the year if the pilot confirms feasibility and compliance. This strand aims to provide high-quality causal evidence on how earlier versus later smartphone access affects outcomes such as well-being and educational trajectories.
Finally, the project began developing a more ambitious technology-centered strand that explores whether targeted modifications to the social media experience can reduce exposure to potentially harmful content and improve well-being. The work to date has focused on defining a feasible measurement strategy and scoping the infrastructure required to implement and evaluate such interventions in a rigorous way.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

A key contribution beyond the state of the art is the project’s demonstration that scalable, user-centered “choice architecture” tools can improve online information diets. Rather than relying on heavy restrictions or platform-wide algorithm changes, the work shows that making it easier for users to actively manage their set of news pages they follow—and, where relevant, providing clear information about source reliability—can shift real-world behavior in meaningful ways. This approach is promising because it is potentially low-cost, compatible with user autonomy, and adaptable across contexts.
The ongoing smartphone-timing study aims to extend this evidence base from information consumption to broader well-being outcomes.
In the long run, the project’s results could inform the design of digital well-being tools and guide evidence-based policy discussions on how to promote healthier and more trustworthy online environments while respecting user choice.