Social media monitoring in schools: student, parent, and staff views
Stakeholder Perspectives on Social Media Surveillance in Schools
This project finds out how students, parents, and school staff feel about schools using tools that scan students' social media posts.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Diego NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11100006 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be asked about your experiences and opinions through surveys and interviews with students, parents, teachers, and school administrators. The team will document how commercial social media surveillance tools are being used, what data companies collect, and how schools respond to flagged content. Researchers will also explore ethical, legal, and social issues like privacy, transparency, potential discrimination, and effects on students' mental health. Results will be used to create clearer guidance for schools and policymakers.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are K-12 students, their parents or guardians, teachers, and school administrators who have experience with or exposure to school social media monitoring programs.
Not a fit: People not connected to K-12 schools or those in districts that do not use social media monitoring are unlikely to see direct benefits from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to clearer policies and safer practices that better protect students' privacy and mental health when schools use social media monitoring.
How similar studies have performed: Small prior surveys, including the team's 529-person poll, have revealed differing views among stakeholders, but large-scale, systematic evidence about impacts and best practices remains limited.
Where this research is happening
La Jolla, United States
- University of California, San Diego — La Jolla, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bloss, Cinnamon S — University of California, San Diego
- Study coordinator: Bloss, Cinnamon S
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.