The investigators will be randomizing 300 college student participants with high levels of social media use into either a 1) control condition (no intervention), a 2) mindfulness meditation cognitive intervention, or 3) a social media reduction + exercise replacement intervention. Participants complete intervention activities daily for two weeks. The investigators will collect self-report and behavioral measures of social media use and related psychological constructs at three time points: baseline, immediately after the intervention period, and one-week after the intervention period (three weeks from baseline).
The participant is 18 or older.
The participant must be a Johns Hopkins University student.
Owning an iPhone or Android smartphone, with frequent use of social media use daily (>
Enabling and sharing screenshots of the participant's smartphone use metrics, including number of last-week pickups, notifications received, and average screen time.
younger than 18
Not a Johns Hopkins University Student
Doesn't own a smart phone
Uses smartphone less than 1 hour daily
Parallel
Mindfulness
Behavioral15 minute daily guided meditation
Social Media Reduction
BehavioralReduce social media use at least 30 minutes daily and exercise instead
Exercise
BehavioralParticipants will exercise at least 30 minutes daily. Participants are given examples of common exercises (walking, yoga, strength training, etc.), but are allowed to choose any type, although dissuaded from activities with high potential for injury.
Change in Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale - 21 (DASS-21)
Score range = 0-63, higher score = worse outcome
Change in World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQoLBREF) scale
Score range = 13-65, lower score = worse outcome
Change in smartphone screen time (minutes) for social media use
Past-week amount of screen time for social media use
Change in number of social media use smartphone pick-ups
Past-week total number of smartphone pickups for social media use applications
Change in University of California, Los Angeles 3-Item Loneliness Scale
Score range = 3-9, higher score = worse outcome
Change in The Gratitude Questionnaire, 6-item form (GQ-6) scale
Score range = 6-42, lower score = worse outcome
Change in Motivations for Electronic Interaction Scale (MEIS)
Score range = 10-50, higher score = worse outcome
Change in Comprehensive Assessment of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Processes (CompACT-15)
scale Score range = 0-138, lower scores = worse outcome
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