Digital Data Donation With Adolescents

Abstract

Growing concerns about digital media's impact on adolescent well-being highlight critical limitations in existing research methodologies that rely predominantly on self-reported screen time measures, which inadequately capture the complexity of digital interactions and behavioral patterns. Data donation, where individuals voluntarily share objective social media data, offers a transformative approach, yet its feasibility with adolescents remains underexplored. This study evaluated the feasibility of implementing data donation methodology with adolescent populations to develop practical guidelines for future studies. We conducted a large-scale, 2-week longitudinal trial (N = 358, aged 13–18) alongside focus groups and youth advisory panels, integrating ecological momentary assessment (EMA), validated psychometrics, and data donation from Instagram and TikTok. Results demonstrated strong feasibility across technical, ethical, and engagement dimensions: Overall, 78.9% of participants donated Instagram data, and 65.8% donated TikTok data, with 74% average EMA response rates. Findings indicate substantial willingness to participate in intensive digital behavioral research when appropriate safeguards and youth-centered approaches are implemented. We propose six key recommendations for data donation studies with adolescents: (1) clearly communicating research value, (2) establishing rigorous consent procedures, (3) centering adolescents’ voices through co‑design, (4) selecting appropriate platforms, (5) implementing suitable technical frameworks, and (6) building robust multi‑stakeholder recruitment strategies.