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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.

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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

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