IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/teinso/v83y2025ics0160791x25002027.html

Towards ethical surveillance of smartphone use among youth: exploratory digital citizen science approaches shaping the understanding of ubiquitous technology use

Author

Listed:
  • Li, Madeline
  • Patel, Jamin
  • Katapally, Tarun Reddy

Abstract

Smartphones are widely used among youth, yet no standardized measures accurately capture smartphone use. This exploratory study utilized the Smart Platform, a digital citizen science initiative, to collect objective, real-time data on smartphone use among youth and investigate differences between retrospective and objective measurements. Youth self-reported smartphone use retrospectively via a validated questionnaire, while objective use (i.e., duration and day of use) was captured over one week using a custom-built app. Differences between the two measures were assessed using Wilcoxon signed-rank test and linear mixed effects models and visualized with Bland-Altman plots. A total of 85 participants with 257 observations (mean age = 15.65, SD = 1.68) were included in this study. Retrospective smartphone use was higher than objective use in the overall sample (4.074 vs 2.615 hours/day, p = 0.019), on weekdays (3.973 vs. 2.714 hours/day, p = 0.024) and on weekends (4.026 vs. 2.323 hours/day, p = 0.014). The mean difference between the measures was 1.39 hours/day (95% CI [-6.99, 9.76]), with larger differences at higher use levels. Mixed effects models confirmed the difference between retrospective and objective use (β = 1.341, C.I. [0.637, 2.071], p < 0.001), adjusting for sociodemographic factors. Females also reported higher use than males (β = 1.027, C.I. [0.068, 1.985], p = 0.045). Accurate measurement of smartphone use is imperative to understand its impacts among youth. Privacy and security challenges associated with objective measures can be addressed through digital citizen science, where youth have the power to share, withdraw, or delete their data.

Suggested Citation

  • Li, Madeline & Patel, Jamin & Katapally, Tarun Reddy, 2025. "Towards ethical surveillance of smartphone use among youth: exploratory digital citizen science approaches shaping the understanding of ubiquitous technology use," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:teinso:v:83:y:2025:i:c:s0160791x25002027
    DOI: 10.1016/j.techsoc.2025.103012
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160791X25002027
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.techsoc.2025.103012?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to

    for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Abbasi, Ghazanfar A & Jagaveeran, Mahavithya & Goh, Yen-Nee & Tariq, Beenish, 2021. "The impact of type of content use on smartphone addiction and academic performance: Physical activity as moderator," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 64(C).
    2. Tarun Reddy Katapally & Luan Manh Chu, 2019. "Methodology to Derive Objective Screen-State from Smartphones: A SMART Platform Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(13), pages 1-13, June.
    3. Han, Sunyoung, 2022. "Impact of smartphones on students: How age at first use and duration of usage affect learning and academic progress," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 70(C).
    4. Sarah Al-akshar & Sheriff Tolulope Ibrahim & Tarun Reddy Katapally, 2024. "How can digital citizen science approaches improve ethical smartphone use surveillance among youth: Traditional surveys versus ecological momentary assessments," PLOS Digital Health, Public Library of Science, vol. 3(11), pages 1-17, November.
    5. Viktor Stojkoski & Philipp Koch & Eva Coll & César A. Hidalgo, 2024. "Estimating digital product trade through corporate revenue data," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-15, December.
    6. George C. Patton & Craig A. Olsson & Vegard Skirbekk & Richard Saffery & Mary E. Wlodek & Peter S. Azzopardi & Marcin Stonawski & Bruce Rasmussen & Elizabeth Spry & Kate Francis & Zulfiqar A. Bhutta &, 2018. "Adolescence and the next generation," Nature, Nature, vol. 554(7693), pages 458-466, February.
    7. Banu Inan Karagul & Meral Seker & Cansu Aykut, 2021. "Investigating Students’ Digital Literacy Levels during Online Education Due to COVID-19 Pandemic," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-11, October.
    8. Sarah E. Domoff & Emma Q. Sutherland & Sonja Yokum & Ashley N. Gearhardt, 2020. "Adolescents’ Addictive Phone Use: Associations with Eating Behaviors and Adiposity," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(8), pages 1-10, April.
    9. Xiongkai Tan & Sha Zhang & Ruichen Ge & Hong Zhao, 2024. "Connectivity in crisis: the contrasting roles of mobile and non-mobile Internet on subjective well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic," Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-10, December.
    10. Velicu, Anca & Barbovschi, Monica & Rotaru, Ileana, 2022. "Socially isolated and digitally excluded. A qualitative exploratory study of the lives of Roma teenage mothers during the COVID-19 lockdown," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).
    11. Douglas A. Parry & Brittany I. Davidson & Craig J. R. Sewall & Jacob T. Fisher & Hannah Mieczkowski & Daniel S. Quintana, 2021. "A systematic review and meta-analysis of discrepancies between logged and self-reported digital media use," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 5(11), pages 1535-1547, November.
    12. Jakobsen, Kine & Mikalsen, Marius & Lilleng, Grethe, 2023. "A literature review of smart technology domains with implications for research on smart rural communities," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 75(C).
    13. Reis, Logan & Mercer, Kathryn & Boger, Jennifer, 2021. "Technologies for fostering intergenerational connectivity and relationships: Scoping review and emergent concepts," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 64(C).
    14. repec:nas:journl:v:115:y:2018:p:6958-6963 is not listed on IDEAS
    15. De Doncker, Kirk & McLean, Nyx, 2022. "Social media, sleep difficulties and depressive symptoms: A case study of South African youth in Cape Town," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 70(C).
    16. María-Carmen Ricoy & Sara Martínez-Carrera & Isabel Martínez-Carrera, 2022. "Social Overview of Smartphone Use by Teenagers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(22), pages 1-15, November.
    17. Eveline A. Crone & Elly A. Konijn, 2018. "Media use and brain development during adolescence," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 9(1), pages 1-10, December.
    18. Yang, Liang & Zhang, Manyang & Jia, Lin & Yan, Zhijun & Yin, Qiuju, 2025. "Understanding digital therapeutics in disease self-management: A systematic literature review," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 81(C).
    19. George C. Patton & Craig A. Olsson & Vegard Skirbekk & Richard Saffery & Mary E. Wlodek & Peter S. Azzopardi & Marcin Stonawski & Bruce Rasmussen & Elizabeth Spry & Kate Francis & Zulfiqar A. Bhutta &, 2018. "Publisher Correction: Adolescence and the next generation," Nature, Nature, vol. 559(7712), pages 1-1, July.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Sabina De Rosis & Francesca Pennucci & Guido Noto & Sabina Nuti, 2020. "Healthy Living and Co-Production: Evaluation of Processes and Outcomes of a Health Promotion Initiative Co-Produced with Adolescents," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(21), pages 1-19, October.
    2. Elizabeth Presler-Marshall & Nicola Jones & Sarah Baird & Rebecca Dutton & Workneh Yadete, 2024. "‘Mind the Gaps’: Exploring Regional and Gender Patterns in Threats to Ethiopian Adolescents’ Bodily Integrity," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 36(2), pages 306-326, April.
    3. Miller, Kathleen K. & Saftner, Melissa A. & McNamara, Meredithe & McMorris, Barbara & Olupot-Olupot, Peter, 2022. "Provision of adolescent health care in Resource-Limited Settings: Perceptions, practices and training needs of Ugandan health care workers," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 132(C).
    4. Yin, Lipeng & Wang, Pengcheng & Li, Heng & Mao, Ningning & Hu, Huahua & Griffiths, Mark D., 2024. "Gender differences in the associations between parental phubbing, fear of missing out, and social networking site addiction: A cross-lagged panel study," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
    5. Andreea Barbu & Mirona Ana Maria Popescu & Georgiana Moiceanu, 2022. "Perspective of Teachers and Students towards the Education Process during COVID-19 in Romanian Universities," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(6), pages 1-21, March.
    6. Jabeen, Fauzia & Tandon, Anushree & Azad, Nasreen & Islam, A.K.M. Najmul & Pereira, Vijay, 2023. "The dark side of social media platforms: A situation-organism-behaviour-consequence approach," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 186(PA).
    7. Lange Steffen & Schmelzer Matthias, 2025. "Beyond Growth: Europe’s Path to Sustainability and Stability," Intereconomics: Review of European Economic Policy, Sciendo, vol. 60(6), pages 329-335.
    8. Kovacic, Matija & Orso, Cristina Elisa, 2024. "Adverse childhood experiences and social media use in adulthood. Evidence from a novel EU survey," GLO Discussion Paper Series 1531, Global Labor Organization (GLO).
    9. Lilia Patrignani, 2024. "Understanding digital trade," Questioni di Economia e Finanza (Occasional Papers) 841, Bank of Italy, Economic Research and International Relations Area.
    10. Sui, Anna & Sui, Wuyou, 2021. "Not getting the message: Critiquing current conceptualizations of nomophobia," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 67(C).
    11. Yan Liu & Hongfa Yi & Crystal Jiang, 2023. "Enjoyment or Indulgence? Social Media Service Usage, Social Gratification, Self-Control Failure and Emotional Health," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(2), pages 1-15, January.
    12. Obidzinski, Marie & Oytana, Yves, 2024. "Artificial intelligence, inattention and liability rules," International Review of Law and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    13. Susana Mourão & Sara Pinheiro & Maria Manuela Mendes & Pedro Caetano & Olga Magano, 2023. "How Did the COVID-19 Pandemic and Digital Divide Impact Ciganos/Roma School Pathways?," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-17, February.
    14. Begoña Cabeza Martínez & Béatrice d’Hombres & Matija Kovacic, 2025. "Social media use, loneliness and emotional distress among young people in Europe," Working Papers 2025: 01, Department of Economics, University of Venice "Ca' Foscari".
    15. repec:osf:socarx:e8hfn_v1 is not listed on IDEAS
    16. Amy Orben & Andrew K. Przybylski & Sarah-Jayne Blakemore & Rogier A. Kievit, 2022. "Windows of developmental sensitivity to social media," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-10, December.
    17. Matija Kovacic & Cristina Elisa Orso, 2024. "Adverse childhood experiences and social media use in adulthood. Evidence from a novel EU survey," Working Papers 2024: 17, Department of Economics, University of Venice "Ca' Foscari".
    18. Clemente Rodríguez-Sabiote & José Álvarez-Rodríguez & Daniel Álvarez-Ferrandiz & Felix Zurita-Ortega, 2020. "Development of Nomophobia Profiles in Education Students through the Use of Multiple Correspondence Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(21), pages 1-16, November.
    19. Katharina Ledebur. Ladislav Bartuska & Klaus Friesenbichler & Peter Klimek, 2025. "Predicting the Emergence of the EV Industry: A Product Space Analysis Across Regions and Firms," Papers 2512.13178, arXiv.org.
    20. Fachter, Shani & Schiavo, Gianluca & Snider, Keren LG. & Cappelletti, Alessandro & Stock, Oliviero & Weiss, Patrice L. & Zancanaro, Massimo & Canetti, Daphna, 2021. "“Come and share a story with me”: Promoting engagement between Ethiopian and Non-Ethiopian Israelis via joint digital narratives," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 67(C).
    21. Diana Valero & Carmen Elboj & Lena De Botton, 2024. "Roma in the COVID-19 Crisis: Transformative Elements That Emerge from the Research," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 13(12), pages 1-12, December.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:teinso:v:83:y:2025:i:c:s0160791x25002027. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/technology-in-society .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.