Digital well-being through social media
Smartphones and social media are part of our lives, raising understandable concerns, especially when younger people use them. However, online experiences can be as negative as they are positive. The way to the psychological well-being of adults and adolescents is through the conscious use of such technologies, not their avoidance. This is one of the results of the HappyB research project, supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation and carried out in collaboration with Universitą della Svizzera italiana and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. The project leader is Laura Marciano, post-doctoral researcher. Launched in 2022, HappyB is a longitudinal study that will follow the evolution of the digital habits and well-being of around 1600 male and female students from four Ticino high schools for two years. Three surveys are planned - the results of the second one, which took place at the end of 2022, are currently being analysed - and an intensive study using an app installed on smartphones to measure usage and well-being levels.
