Smartphones and Social Health: Does Reduced Phone Use Lead to Better Social Health Outcomes?

Within the past decade, smartphones have become a necessity for modern life. However, there has been little to no experimental scientific research on how problematic use of these devices influences social health. Problematic smartphone use (PSU) may reduce our ability to communicate and understand one another, thereby reducing our ability to bond together, connect, and improve relationships. Research has examined many social health correlates of PSU, including technology’s impact on emotional intelligence, relationship satisfaction, and loneliness. However, these studies have been limited in causal validity by their survey-based approach. We propose the use of a pre-test/post-test experiment designed to reduce PSU in the treatment group to explore whether reducing PSU improves social health over time. We plan to help people reduce their phone use through an educational intervention over five weeks while tracking and analyzing their smartphone usage over that time. During these five weeks, we will measure social health indicators including emotional intelligence, empathy, social sensitivity, social anxiety, and loneliness