Social Media Withdrawal in Pregnancy: Effects on Maternal Mental Health and Misinformation

Part of paid clinical trials in Boston, Massachusetts.

Sponsor
Massachusetts General Hospital
Study ID
NCT07812506
Status
Not Yet Recruiting

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Conditions

  • Pregnancy

Eligibility Criteria

Sex
FEMALE
Age
18 Years - N/A
Healthy Volunteers
Accepted

Interventions

  • Brick device — DEVICE
    A hardware-based device that restricts access to user-selected social media applications by requiring physical interaction with the device to unlock them. Participants in the intervention arm will use the device continuously to block access to selected social media apps during a 2-week intervention period, following a 2-week baseline monitoring period. The device is not an FDA-regulated medical device and functions as a consumer hardware tool. Participants may voluntarily reverse the intervention (unlock the device) at any point during the study.

Study Details

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if restricting social media use with a hardware device can improve mental health and well-being during pregnancy. It will also learn about the feasibility and acceptability of this approach. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Does restricting social media use lower the amount of time participants spend on social media? * Does restricting social media use improve depression, anxiety, well-being, loneliness, sleep, and physical activity? Researchers will compare participants who use a device (Brick™) that restricts social media apps to participants receiving usual care to see if the device improves social media use and mental health outcomes. Participants will: * Complete surveys about mood, sleep, and social media use, and wear/carry a smartphone app that tracks activity and sleep * Use the Brick device to restrict social media apps for 2 weeks, or continue their usual phone use * Complete follow-up surveys at the end of the 4-week study

Key Dates

First listed
Sep 10, 2026
Start date
Oct 1, 2026
Status verified
Sep 2026
Primary completion
Oct 1, 2027
Completion
Dec 31, 2027

Study Design

Enrollment
70 participants (estimated)
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Arms

  • Experimental: Intervention
    Participants randomized to this arm will complete a 2-week baseline monitoring period followed by a 2-week intervention period. During the intervention period, participants will receive the Brick™ device, a hardware-based tool that restricts access to user-selected social media applications by requiring physical interaction with the device to unlock them. Participants will be instructed on device use and asked to use it continuously to block access to their selected social media apps for the duration of the 2-week intervention period. Participants may voluntarily reverse the intervention at any point during the study.
  • No Intervention: Usual Care
    Participants randomized to this arm will complete a 2-week baseline monitoring period followed by a 2-week period of continued usual smartphone and social media behavior, without any restriction on app access. No intervention device or procedure is administered during this period. As additional compensation, participants in this arm will receive a Brick™ device following completion of all study procedures.

Primary Outcome Measure

Percent reduction in social media screen time [ Time Frame: 2-week intervention period ]

Central Contacts

Locations (1)

FacilityCityStateZIPSite coordinators
Massachusetts General HospitalBostonMassachusetts02114-

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By research site
Massachusetts General Hospital· Boston, MA

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