Social Media, Artificial Intelligence, and Digital Well-Being: Research Contributions and Policy Challenges

Social media is a powerful societal force, but engagement with these websites can have both positive and negative consequences. Understanding both the risks and benefits of social media is essential for individual and community well-being. Because the effects of social media can vary by gender, socio-economic status, and other demographic categories, potential changes in federal policy that limit researchers' ability to study these topics can undermine research that contributes to adult and adolescent mental and physical health. This work helps inform policies on current issues such as whether cell phones should be allowed in schools, provides guidance for parents on screen time decisions, and allows individuals to make healthy decisions about their own participation on social media. Social media also affects civic health in positive and negative ways, including providing opportunities for engagement but also exposing individuals to misinformation. New artificial intelligence tools can also heighten the positive and negative effects of social media. Large-scale studies, such as those supported by federal grants, advance scientific understanding of these topics. The current paper describes key advances in this area, as well as highlighting recent governmental policies that may constrain the study of social media effects.