Study published in Journal of Adolescence
Our focus group study on how Dutch adolescents experience, understand, and want to change their digital media use is now published in Journal of Adolescence. Read it here →
Study I presented at the 28th ISSBD Biennial Meeting, Incheon, South Korea
Our focus groups study was presented in a symposium at the 28th Biennial Meeting of the International Society for the Study of Behavioural Development, one of the largest international conferences on human development, held in Incheon, South Korea.
Study IV presented at the VNOP Conference, Rotterdam
Our study on social media content and pornography-related urges was presented in a symposium at the 2026 conference of the VNOP (Vereniging voor Nederlandse Ontwikkelings-Psychologie), the Dutch society for developmental psychology, held in Rotterdam.
We are looking for participants!
We are actively recruiting participants aged 16–21 for our two-week smartphone study on social media and emotional well-being. If you work with young people or know someone who fits the profile, schools, clinics, and youth organisations interested in facilitating recruitment are warmly encouraged to reach out — every participant makes a valuable contribution.
Our work presented at SRA Biennial Meeting — Toronto, Canada
Luka Todorović presented a poster on Study I at the Society for Research on Adolescence biennial meeting — one of the leading international gatherings of adolescence researchers — sharing early findings from our focus group work with Dutch teenagers. Helle Larsen attended the conference and organised a symposium.
Amsterdam University Fund grant awarded
The Digital Youth Project received a research grant of €10,000 from the Amsterdam University Fund to support Study V — a recognition that makes the two-week EMA study on daily social media dynamics and emotional well-being possible, and that we are grateful for.
Erasmus+ application submitted with European partners
The Digital Youth Project joined a consortium led by Fundació Pere Tarrés (Spain) in applying for an Erasmus+ KA220 grant of €250,000 — a significant step toward translating DYP research into practical tools for youth digital well-being across educational and leisure settings in Europe. We are awaiting the decision in July 2026.
Study published in Addictive Behaviors
Our laboratory study on ADHD symptoms and problematic digital media use in emerging adults is now published in Addictive Behaviors. Read it here →
Study published in Journal of Research on Adolescence
Our two-year longitudinal study following 645 Dutch adolescents is now available open access in the Journal of Research on Adolescence. The paper tackles one of the field's central debates — what comes first, emotional problems or problematic use — and finds that the answer depends meaningfully on who you are asking about. Read it here →
Poster and flash talk at Digital Media and Developing Minds Congress — Washington DC, USA
Findings from our research on mental health and problematic digital media use in adolescents were presented at this international scientific congress, bringing together some of the leading researchers working at the intersection of technology and youth development.
