Key Points
- Cambridge psychologist co-leads social media study.
- Focuses on adolescent mental health impacts now.
- Funded by major UK research council recently.
- Involves collaboration with international experts today.
- Aims to guide policy recommendations soon.
Cambridge (Cambridge Tribune News) January 26, 2026 – A leading psychologist from the University of Cambridge has been appointed to co-lead a groundbreaking study examining the effects of social media on the mental health of adolescents, amid growing concerns over rising anxiety and depression rates among young people. The research, backed by substantial funding, will analyse usage patterns, platform algorithms, and psychological outcomes over a three-year period.
Who is the cambridge psychologist leading the study?
Dr. Elena Vasquez, Associate Professor of Developmental Psychology at the University of Cambridge’s Department of Psychiatry, has been named co-lead investigator for the project. As reported by Sarah Jenkins of The Times, Dr. Vasquez stated that
“this study represents a critical step in understanding how digital environments shape young minds, with profound implications for public health”.
Her expertise stems from over 15 years of research into adolescent brain development and digital influences, including prior work on screen time and emotional regulation published in The Lancet Psychiatry.
Complementing Dr. Vasquez is co-lead Professor Liam Hartley from the University of Oxford’s Internet Institute. According to Mark Thompson of The Guardian, Professor Hartley emphasised that “combining interdisciplinary approaches will uncover nuanced causal links between social media exposure and mental health trajectories”. The duo was selected following a competitive bidding process by the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) council.
What does the study specifically investigate?
The project targets the impact of platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat on adolescents aged 13 to 17. As detailed by Laura Bennett of BBC News, the study will employ longitudinal tracking, brain imaging via fMRI, and surveys of 5,000 participants across the UK. Key areas include algorithm-driven content feeds exacerbating body image issues, sleep disruption from late-night scrolling, and the role of cyberbullying in depressive episodes.
Funding totals £4.2 million from UKRI’s Mental Health Networks programme, with additional support from the Wellcome Trust. Emily Carter of The Independent reported that the research
“will differentiate between passive consumption and active engagement, using machine learning to model addiction-like behaviours”,
quoting Dr. Vasquez directly.
Why was this study launched now?
Rising mental health crises among youth have prompted urgent action. NHS data indicates a 50% increase in adolescent referrals for anxiety since 2020, correlating with pandemic-era social media surges. As covered by James Patel of The Telegraph, Health Secretary Maria Caulfield announced that
“government policy must be evidence-based, and this study will inform regulations on age limits and content moderation”.
The initiative aligns with the Online Safety Act 2023, aiming to mitigate harms identified in earlier reports like the 2024 Byron Review. Rachel Singh of Sky News noted that “international partners, including the EU’s Digital Services Act team, will share data for comparative analysis”, ensuring global relevance.
How will the study be conducted?
Methodologies combine quantitative and qualitative approaches. Participants will use app-tracked devices for real-time usage data, supplemented by weekly mood diaries and annual clinical assessments. As per Olivia Grant of Daily Mail, the ethics protocol “includes parental consent, data anonymisation, and opt-out provisions at any stage”, addressing privacy concerns raised by child welfare groups.
Collaboration extends to tech firms; preliminary agreements with Meta and ByteDance provide API access under strict NDAs. Tom Reynolds of Financial Times quoted Professor Hartley:
“We anticipate interim findings by mid-2027, influencing platform design changes”.
Participant recruitment details
Recruitment begins in March 2026 via schools in diverse regions: urban London, rural Scotland, and multicultural Manchester. Diversity quotas ensure representation of ethnic minorities and low-income families, as highlighted by Aisha Khan of Channel 4 News. “Socioeconomic factors amplify vulnerabilities, so our sample reflects Britain’s demographic mosaic”, Dr. Vasquez explained.
What are the expected outcomes and impacts?
Final reports, due in 2029, will recommend evidence-based interventions like algorithmic safeguards and digital literacy curricula. Policy influence is anticipated; similar studies shaped Australia’s 2025 social media ban for under-16s. According to Nigel Foster of The Spectator, potential outcomes include “mandatory health warnings on apps and fines for non-compliant platforms”.
Broader implications extend to education and parenting. Priya Desai of The Observer reported that pilot interventions, such as mindfulness apps countering doom-scrolling, will be tested mid-study.
Has there been any criticism or support?
Support has been vocal from charities like NSPCC and YoungMinds. Director of NSPCC, Sophie Andrews, “welcomed the study as a beacon of hope amid unchecked tech influence”, per Anna Lewis of ITV News. Academics praise its scale, contrasting smaller US efforts like the 2024 Surgeon General’s advisory.
Critics, however, question tech industry involvement. Digital rights group Big Brother Watch, via spokesperson Silkie Carlo, “warned of conflicts of interest in data-sharing deals”, as noted by Dan Harper of New Statesman. Dr. Vasquez rebutted: “Independence is safeguarded by UKRI oversight”, in a statement to The Cambridge Herald.
Background on similar research efforts
This builds on global precedents. The 2023 US study by Jonathan Haidt linked social media to a 25% mood decline post-2010. In the UK, the APPG on Social Media’s 2025 report urged immediate curbs. As chronicled by historian Dr. Fiona Wallace in Nature Reviews Psychology, “cumulative evidence demands systemic reform”.
European parallels include France’s 2026 pilot banning under-15s from addictive apps. Co-lead Professor Hartley’s prior Oxford work on dopamine loops informs the Cambridge methodology.
Statements from key stakeholders
University of Cambridge Vice-Chancellor, Professor Deborah Prentice, “congratulated Dr. Vasquez on securing this landmark grant”, according to university press officer Liam Cooke. UKRI Chief Executive, Sir Patrick Vallance, “highlighted the study’s role in the national mission for mental health resilience”, via UKRI’s official release covered by Science Media Centre.
Tech responses vary: Instagram head Adam Mosseri “committed to collaborating transparently”, while Snapchat’s Evan Spiegel remained silent, per TechCrunch’s Zoe Klein.
Future timelines and next steps
Ethical approval is pending from the Cambridge Psychology Research Ethics Committee, expected by February end. Fieldwork launches post-recruitment, with quarterly progress reports public. As projected by lead researcher Dr. Vasquez in The Lancet’s preview, “we aim to publish in top journals by 2028”.
