Chatbot support for teens facing online victimization
Social Media Intervention for OnLinE Victimized Youth
A social-media chatbot will offer support to teens ages 12–20 who face online victimization, aiming to lower depression and suicidal thoughts.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11109741 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be offered access to SMILEY, an automated chatbot delivered through social media, if you are a teen who tells your primary care provider about online victimization. The chatbot would check in after upsetting online events, offer coping strategies, and help reduce the stress that can lead to worse mood or suicidal thoughts. Participating clinics will identify eligible teens, monitor safety, and collect feedback on how usable and helpful the chatbot is. The team will use that feedback to improve the chatbot and the way clinics connect teens to additional care when needed.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Teens aged 12–20 who are patients at participating primary care clinics and who report recent online victimization or related depressive symptoms or suicidal thoughts are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: This chatbot is unlikely to help children under 12, adults, teens without online victimization, or anyone needing immediate emergency psychiatric care.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could provide immediate, scalable support after online bullying and help reduce depression and suicidal thoughts in teens.
How similar studies have performed: Other digital mental-health chatbots and online interventions have shown promise for mood and crisis support, but using a social-media chatbot specifically to address online victimization in adolescents is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Pittsburgh, United States
- University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh — Pittsburgh, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Escobar-Viera, Cesar Gabriel — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Escobar-Viera, Cesar Gabriel
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.