Methodological considerations for social media intervention studies
- Author
- Mariek Vanden Abeele (UGent) , Stephen Murphy (UGent) , Laura Lemahieu and Ernst Koster (UGent)
- Organization
- Project
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- Digital Wellbeing in a Culture of Ubiquitous Connectivity: Towards a Dynamic Pathway Model
- Disconnect to connect: Towards a healthier relationship with digital technologies across work, school, and family contexts.
- Does Being ‘Always-On’ Burn Us Out? The Cognitive and Affective Costs of the 24/7 Lifestyle [COSTOF24/7]
- Abstract
- There is extensive debate about the effects of social media use on well-being. However, evidence central to this debate is lacking because of an inability to confirm a causal link through experimental research. The rise of social media intervention experiments to tackle this issue represents a positive change for the field. However, these studies are encumbered by methodological challenges that prevent a clear take-home message from this literature. In this Perspective, we discuss key methodological considerations for experimental intervention studies on social media use and provide recommendations for how researchers could design their research and interpret their results to mitigate or avoid these challenges in future.
- Keywords
- SELF-DETERMINATION, FACEBOOK, CONSEQUENCES, ASSOCIATIONS, ADOLESCENTS, TECHNOLOGY, LONELINESS, INSTAGRAM, DECREASE, BREAK
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Citation
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication: http://hdl.handle.net/1854/LU-01JSYB521G6SYRQ6JT430G9BPK
- MLA
- Vanden Abeele, Mariek, et al. “Methodological Considerations for Social Media Intervention Studies.” NATURE REVIEWS PSYCHOLOGY, vol. 4, no. 9, 2025, pp. 603–14, doi:10.1038/s44159-025-00474-6.
- APA
- Vanden Abeele, M., Murphy, S., Lemahieu, L., & Koster, E. (2025). Methodological considerations for social media intervention studies. NATURE REVIEWS PSYCHOLOGY, 4(9), 603–614. https://doi.org/10.1038/s44159-025-00474-6
- Chicago author-date
- Vanden Abeele, Mariek, Stephen Murphy, Laura Lemahieu, and Ernst Koster. 2025. “Methodological Considerations for Social Media Intervention Studies.” NATURE REVIEWS PSYCHOLOGY 4 (9): 603–14. https://doi.org/10.1038/s44159-025-00474-6.
- Chicago author-date (all authors)
- Vanden Abeele, Mariek, Stephen Murphy, Laura Lemahieu, and Ernst Koster. 2025. “Methodological Considerations for Social Media Intervention Studies.” NATURE REVIEWS PSYCHOLOGY 4 (9): 603–614. doi:10.1038/s44159-025-00474-6.
- Vancouver
- 1.Vanden Abeele M, Murphy S, Lemahieu L, Koster E. Methodological considerations for social media intervention studies. NATURE REVIEWS PSYCHOLOGY. 2025;4(9):603–14.
- IEEE
- [1]M. Vanden Abeele, S. Murphy, L. Lemahieu, and E. Koster, “Methodological considerations for social media intervention studies,” NATURE REVIEWS PSYCHOLOGY, vol. 4, no. 9, pp. 603–614, 2025.
@article{01JSYB521G6SYRQ6JT430G9BPK,
abstract = {{There is extensive debate about the effects of social media use on well-being. However, evidence central to this debate is lacking because of an inability to confirm a causal link through experimental research. The rise of social media intervention experiments to tackle this issue represents a positive change for the field. However, these studies are encumbered by methodological challenges that prevent a clear take-home message from this literature. In this Perspective, we discuss key methodological considerations for experimental intervention studies on social media use and provide recommendations for how researchers could design their research and interpret their results to mitigate or avoid these challenges in future.}},
author = {{Vanden Abeele, Mariek and Murphy, Stephen and Lemahieu, Laura and Koster, Ernst}},
issn = {{2731-0574}},
journal = {{NATURE REVIEWS PSYCHOLOGY}},
keywords = {{SELF-DETERMINATION,FACEBOOK,CONSEQUENCES,ASSOCIATIONS,ADOLESCENTS,TECHNOLOGY,LONELINESS,INSTAGRAM,DECREASE,BREAK}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{9}},
pages = {{603--614}},
title = {{Methodological considerations for social media intervention studies}},
url = {{http://doi.org/10.1038/s44159-025-00474-6}},
volume = {{4}},
year = {{2025}},
}
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