Short, Animated Storytelling (SAS) Videos to Reduce Smartphone Addiction in the US

NCT06979856 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 80171
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 6,000
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study will test the effect of exposure to short, animated storytelling videos on participants' perceived risk of smartphone overuse immediately after exposure, two weeks later and four weeks later.

Conditions

Smartphone Addiction

Keywords

Addictive Behavior; Smartphone addiction; screen time; digital well-being; mental health

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Smartphone Addiction Scale (SmAS) score

  SmAS is a short 10 item validated scale measuring smartphone addiction. The minimum value is 10 and the maximum value is 60 for this scale.

  Baseline, 2 weeks and 4 weeks post intervention

• Mobile Phone Attachment Scale - Anxious Attachment Sub Scale (MPAS-AA)

  The MPAS Anxious Attachment subscale comprises 7 items rated 1 (not at all true) to 5 (extremely true). Subscale scores were computed as the mean of the 7 items (range 1-5), with higher scores indicating greater anxious attachment to one's mobile phone. The MPAS-AA has demonstrated good internal consistency (α=.87) and external validity.

  Baseline, immediate post-intervention (up to 24 hours), 2 weeks and 4 weeks post intervention

Secondary Outcomes (4)

• Mobile Phone Attachment Scale - Addiction Sub Scale (MPAS_Addiction)

  Baseline, 2 weeks and 4 weeks post intervention

• Perceived Danger of Smartphone Overuse measured using a visual analogue scale (VAS)

  Baseline, immediately post intervention exposure (up to 24 hours), 2 weeks and 4 weeks post intervention exposure

• Self-reported daily smartphone use (past 2 weeks)

  Baseline, 2 weeks and 4 weeks post intervention exposure

• Self-perceived smartphone addiction (single item; Olsen)

  Baseline, immediately post intervention exposure (up to 24 hours) 2 weeks and 4 weeks post intervention exposure

Study Arms (3)

Animated videos

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants will watch two short, animated storytelling videos about digital addiction.

Behavioral: Short animated videos

Informational Control

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants will read a fact sheet containing written information and statistics about smartphone usage.

Behavioral: Informational Control

Do-nothing control

NO INTERVENTION

Participants will only complete the surveys. Participants do not receive any intervention or information about digital addiction.

Interventions

Short animated videos BEHAVIORAL

The short animated videos (approximately 2 minutes each) draw attention to the dangers of smartphone addiction.

Animated videos

Informational Control BEHAVIORAL

A short fact sheet presenting written information and statistics about smartphone usage.

Informational Control

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 30 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• English Speaking
• Own a Smartphone
• Live in the US

You may not qualify if:

• None

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Stanford University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Stanford University

Stanford, California, 94305, United States

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Internet Addiction Disorder; Behavior, Addictive; Psychological Well-Being

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Technology Addiction; Compulsive Behavior; Impulsive Behavior; Behavior; Personal Satisfaction

Study Officials

• Maya U Adam, MD

  Stanford University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: TRIPLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, INVESTIGATOR, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Clinical Associate Professor of Pediatrics

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: May 6, 2025
• First Posted: May 20, 2025
• Study Start: February 9, 2026
• Primary Completion: March 26, 2026
• Study Completion: March 26, 2026
• Last Updated: April 2, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-03

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (1)