Accelerating the science of digital harms with data donations to a digital harms research center
Abstract
Science has struggled to meet public demands to understand the role of AI, smartphones, and social media in young people's hospitalizations and deaths. One reason is that researchers have not had access to forensic data after severe incidents. A digital harms research center that holds archives of donated incident data and compiles comparable databases between cases could transform scientific understanding and help prevent these severe harms.
Date Posted
December 11, 2025
Authors
J. Nathan Matias, Sarah Gilbert, Alexandra Gonzalez, Laura A Edelson, Marie Bragg, Avriel Epps, Ashley Maxie-Moreman, Amrit Kaur Purba, Damon McCoy, Jenny Radesky
Themes
Online Behavior
Abstract
Science has struggled to meet public demands to understand the role of AI, smartphones, and social media in young people's hospitalizations and deaths. One reason is that researchers have not had access to forensic data after severe incidents. A digital harms research center that holds archives of donated incident data and compiles comparable databases between cases could transform scientific understanding and help prevent these severe harms.
Date Posted
December 11, 2025
Authors
J. Nathan Matias, Sarah Gilbert, Alexandra Gonzalez, Laura A Edelson, Marie Bragg, Avriel Epps, Ashley Maxie-Moreman, Amrit Kaur Purba, Damon McCoy, Jenny Radesky
Themes
Online Behavior