About this Research Topic

Background

With the increased accessibility to the internet and social media, discussions on how online activities and contents may affect mental health have also grown. Simultaneously, the industry of Trust & Safety, which primarily concerns setting up practices to safeguard users from potential harm (e.g., fraud, harassment, hate speech, graphic content) are becoming more mature. For instance, Trust & Safety practices may include enabling users to report and flag concerning content and hiring content moderators to review and remove them. Despite these efforts to increase the potential benefits and reduce the potential harms of online platforms for users, the efficacy of these practices remains unclear. For instance, mixed evidence exists on the benefits and harms of social media and the efficacy of preventive steps online platforms have taken. This research topic aims to shed light on the relationship among the use of the internet and social media, mental health, and Trust & Safety practices.

Along with this, as the use of social media increases, so seems to do the instances of its problematic use. However, up to now, there is no accordance among researchers about defining and measuring social media problematic use, and conceptualization problems are emerging. Indeed, terms such as social media (or specific social network sites)- addiction, misuse, problematic use, maladaptive use, overuse are often adopted in an interchangeable way. Furthermore, the problematic use of social media is emerging as a topic of concern under several points of view including social and psychological ones [e.g., poor wellbeing and mental health]. This research topic also aims to shed light on and characterize these phenomena, as well as to provide research for understanding those mechanisms associated with and pathways towards the problematic use of social media. Insights from neuroscientific research are also welcome.

Accordingly, the general goal of this research topic is to curate studies that may shed light on the relationship among the use of the internet and social media, mental health, and Trust & Safety practices. More specifically, it aims at providing an overview on the state of the art of what may constitute and characterize healthy vs problematic social media use, as well as at addressing the conceptualization problem previously highlighted.

Furthermore, another aim is to provide an overview on research about mental health effects of the internet and social media use, with a special attention on contents, activities, and Trust & Safety practices. Accordingly, we welcome foundational research and basic science studies that aim to understand how mental health symptoms may develop in relation to the use of the internet and social media, and how these processes may bear implications for Trust & Safety practices. We also welcome applied research that examines how different online contents and activities may impact mental health among specific groups (e.g., adolescents, individuals at risk for suicide, content moderators). This article collection would also provide a focus on how this knowledge can lead to intervention possibilities. Intervention research on therapeutic techniques, tools, policies that may promote mental health and reduce harm is also suitable for this Topic.

Studies that address similar research questions as those listed below are encouraged to submit:

● Basic science research on mental health in relation to the internet and social media use:
o What are the mechanisms of developing adverse mental health outcomes (e.g., secondary traumatic stress, depression, anxiety)?
o How can the mechanisms of developing negative mental health outcomes be disrupted?
o Which mechanisms can lead to problematic internet and social media use?
o When does social media use become problematic and when not? Which usage pattern can be considered problematic?

● Trust & Safety and mental health for users:
o What are the risk and protective factors of experiencing negative mental health outcomes due to engagement with online content and activities?
o Which populations may be particularly at risk and why?
o How can Trust & Safety practices reduce risk for negative outcomes and promote psychological wellbeing?

● Mental health for Trust & Safety employees:
o What are content moderators’ experiences at the job?
o What types of content might produce the most harm and how can we reduce harm?
o What is the current state of interventions for content moderators and what’s their efficacy?
o What are the protective factors that helped content moderators in their jobs?

Keywords: content exposure, traumatic stress, cyberbullying, suicide and self-injury, policy, problematic social media use, social media use

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

Frequently asked questions

• What is a Research Topic?

  Frontiers' Research Topics are collaborative hubs built around an emerging theme.Defined, managed, and led by renowned researchers, they bring communities together around a shared area of interest to stimulate collaboration and innovation.

  Unlike section journals, which serve established specialty communities, Research Topics are pioneer hubs, responding to the evolving scientific landscape and catering to new communities.

• Why does Frontiers publish Research Topics? 

  The goal of Frontiers' publishing program is to empower research communities to actively steer the course of scientific publishing. Our program was implemented as a three-part unit with fixed field journals, flexible specialty sections, and dynamically emerging Research Topics, connecting communities of different sizes and maturity.

  Research Topics originate from the scientific community. Many of our Research Topics are suggested by existing editorial board members who have identified critical challenges or areas of interest in their field.

• Why are Research Topics important for journals?

  As an editor, Research Topics will help you build your journal, as well as your community, around emerging, cutting-edge research. As research trailblazers, Research Topics attract high-quality submissions from leading experts all over the world.

  A thriving Research Topic can potentially evolve into a new specialty section if there is sustained interest and a growing community around it.

• How do we ensure the quality of articles within Research Topics?

  Each Research Topic must be approved by the specialty chief editor, and they fall under the editorial oversight of our editorial boards, supported by our in-house research integrity team. The same standards and rigorous peer review processes apply to articles published as part of a Research Topic as for any other article we publish.

    In 2023, 80% of the Research Topics we published were edited or co-edited by our editorial board members, who are already familiar with their journal's scope, ethos, and publishing model. All other topics are guest edited by leaders in their field, each vetted and formally approved by the specialty chief editor.

• What are the benefits of publishing my article in a Research Topic?

  Publishing your article within a Research Topic with other related articles increases its discoverability and visibility, which can lead to more views, downloads, and citations. Research Topics grow dynamically as more published articles are added, causing frequent revisiting, and further visibility.

  As Research Topics are multidisciplinary, they are cross-listed in several fields and section journals – increasing your reach even more and giving you the chance to expand your network and collaborate with researchers in different fields, all focusing on expanding knowledge around the same important topic.

  Our larger Research Topics are also converted into ebooks and receive social media promotion from our digital marketing team.

   
• What types of articles can be published in a Research Topic?

  Frontiers offers multiple article types, but it will depend on the field and section journals in which the Research Topic will be featured. The available article types for a Research Topic will appear in the drop-down menu during the submission process.

  Check available article types here 

• Can I suggest a new Research Topic? 

  Yes, we would love to hear your ideas for a topic. Most of our Research Topics are community-led and suggested by researchers in the field. Our in-house editorial team will contact you to talk about your idea and whether you’d like to edit the topic. If you’re an early-stage researcher, we will offer you the opportunity to coordinate your topic, with the support of a senior researcher as the topic editor. 

  Suggest your topic here 

• Who leads a Research Topic? 

  A team of guest editors (called topic editors) lead their Research Topic. This editorial team oversees the entire process, from the initial topic proposal to calls for participation, the peer review, and final publications.

  The team may also include topic coordinators, who help the topic editors send calls for participation, liaise with topic editors on abstracts, and support contributing authors. In some cases, they can also be assigned as reviewers.

• What is the role of a topic editor?

  As a topic editor (TE), you will take the lead on all editorial decisions for the Research Topic, starting with defining its scope. This allows you to curate research around a topic that interests you, bring together different perspectives from leading researchers across different fields and shape the future of your field. 

   

  You will choose your team of co-editors, curate a list of potential authors, send calls for participation and oversee the peer review process, accepting or recommending rejection for each manuscript submitted.

• What support will I receive when editing a new Research Topic? 

  As a topic editor, you're supported at every stage by our in-house team. You will be assigned a single point of contact to help you on both editorial and technical matters. Your topic is managed through our user-friendly online platform, and the peer review process is supported by our industry-first AI review assistant (AIRA).

• As a junior researcher, can I be involved in editing a Research Topic? 

  If you’re an early-stage researcher, we will offer you the opportunity to coordinate your topic, with the support of a senior researcher as the topic editor. This provides you with valuable editorial experience, improving your ability to critically evaluate research articles and enhancing your understanding of the quality standards and requirements for scientific publishing, as well as the opportunity to discover new research in your field, and expand your professional network.

• Can I get a certificate for editing a Research Topic?

  Yes, certificates can be issued on request. We are happy to provide a certificate for your contribution to editing a successful Research Topic.

• Who will I collaborate with?

  Research Topics thrive on collaboration and their multi-disciplinary approach around emerging, cutting-edge themes, attract leading researchers from all over the world.

• How long does it take to publish a Research Topic?

  As a topic editor, you can set the timeline for your Research Topic, and we will work with you at your pace. Typically, Research Topics are online and open for submissions within a few weeks and remain open for participation for 6 – 12 months. Individual articles within a Research Topic are published as soon as they are ready.

  Find out more about our Research Topics

• What fee support is available to authors publishing in a Research Topic?

  Our fee support program ensures that all articles that pass peer review, including those published in Research Topics, can benefit from open access – regardless of the author's field or funding situation.

  Authors and institutions with insufficient funding can apply for a discount on their publishing fees. A fee support application form is available on our website.

• Will there be a printed version of my RT?

  In line with our mission to promote healthy lives on a healthy planet, we do not provide printed materials. All our articles and ebooks are available under a CC-BY license, so you can share and print copies.