Independent, research-based guidance for the mental health challenges of the digital age.
The Center for Social Media and Youth fills a critical gap in digital well-being resources. While many organizations focus on content appropriateness and parental controls, we provide the first comprehensive ratings of how apps, games, and platforms impact mental health and well-being by age.
Our goal is to empower parents, teens, and educators with clear, evidence-based information about the psychological effects of digital platforms—including anxiety triggers, addictive design patterns, social comparison impacts, privacy concerns, and sleep disruption—so families can make informed decisions about technology use.
Existing resources rate content (violence, language, sexual content) but rarely address mental health impacts like social comparison anxiety, algorithmic manipulation, or addictive design. That's the gap we fill.
Our ratings are grounded in child development research and evidence-based assessments. Here's how we evaluate each platform:
Does the platform expose users to content or interactions that may cause worry, fear, or distress? We assess cyberbullying potential, exposure to disturbing content, and social pressure.
How is the platform engineered to maximize time spent? We examine infinite scroll, autoplay, notifications, streaks, and other habit-forming features designed to keep users engaged.
Does the platform encourage unhealthy social comparison? We evaluate features like likes, follower counts, appearance-focused content, and curated highlight reels.
What data does the platform collect, and how is it used? We assess data harvesting practices, targeted advertising, and third-party sharing that may impact teens' privacy and autonomy.
How likely is the platform to interfere with healthy sleep? We consider notification patterns, evening engagement tactics, and content that keeps users scrolling late into the night.
We also highlight benefits: creative expression opportunities, educational value, community quality, and digital wellness features like time limits or pause options.
Our age recommendations reflect developmental stages and vulnerability to specific harms. A platform rated 16+ may have features that are particularly risky for younger teens still developing identity and emotional regulation.
Our ratings are informed by peer-reviewed research in psychology, child development, and digital well-being:
Our methodology was developed in consultation with child psychologists, digital media researchers, and pediatricians. Each review is created by trained reviewers and vetted by subject matter experts.
The Center for Social Media and Youth maintains strict editorial independence:
The Center is initially seeking seed funding from the Florida Legislature and will operate under the Claude Pepper Foundation—a fully independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit that calls the Claude Pepper Center at FSU home, while charting its own course free from university affiliation.
Our only commitment is to families seeking trustworthy information about digital well-being.
Help us expand our mission of evidence-based digital well-being guidance.
Support independent research and reviews. Every donation helps us rate more platforms and reach more families.
Support Our WorkTell other parents, educators, and teens about our ratings. Word-of-mouth is our primary growth strategy.
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