Google needs your help to study how bad smartphones are rooted in our brains

The University of Oregon uses Digital Wellbeing to examine our collective digital well-being

It is pretty safe to assume that phones are not good for our collective mental health. Of course, technology has all sorts of benefits, but being connected to the web 24/7 messes with sleep plans, stress levels and even personal relationships. Google developed Digital Wellbeing to make our mobile lives a little healthier, and now a new study from the University of Oregon will go a step further.

The School’s Center for Digital Mental Health is leading a new research project with assistance from Google, and both groups are asking for your help in pushing forward in this ever-growing field. As explained by Dr. Nicholas Allen, professor of psychology at UO, tries to separate the positive with technology from the negative. The group wants to find out what harmful elements in our smartphones can be controlled and mitigated without having to throw away any benefits.

Unfortunately, research into this type of smartphone use can be severely deficient, as it relies on self-report surveys that omit information and subtract from small samples. This is where Google comes in – the company allows UO to use Android’s digital wellness tools to automate participation. If you own a Fitbit, it’s even better, as the group can optionally use your step count and workout tracking to better inform you about your technological habits.

Do not worry; you are not automatically enrolled in this research project. Instead, any adult in the United States with an Android phone who is able to perform normal daily activities without assistance can sign up to be part of the study. It’s all opt-in, and the data collected is only being used for research – not advertising.

It’s worth checking out the whole Dr. Allen’s article on the subject to see if his research interests you. If you feel like playing a role, you can sign up using the Google Health Studies app from Friday, May 27th. Everyone else can return to their usual doomscrolling habits.

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