Smartphone AddictionSASNCT06979856
Short, Animated Storytelling (SAS) Videos to Reduce Smartphone Addiction in the US
A study testing Short animated videos in people with Smartphone Addiction, run by Stanford University at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
This study will test the effect of exposure to short, animated storytelling videos on participants' perceived risk of smartphone overuse immediately after exposure, two weeks later and four weeks later. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 30 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Smartphone Addiction
- What is being tested?
- Short animated videos
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 6,000 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 9 Feb 2026to 26 Mar 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 30 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- English Speaking
- Own a Smartphone
- Live in the US
Who cannot join
- None
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: Short, Animated Storytelling Videos to Reduce Smartphone Addiction in the US: Protocol for an Online, Randomized Controlled Trial
This study will test the effect of exposure to short, animated storytelling videos on participants' perceived risk of smartphone overuse immediately after exposure, two weeks later and four weeks later.
- Conditions
- Smartphone Addiction
- Being tested
- Short animated videos, Informational Control
- Keywords
- Addictive Behavior, Smartphone addiction, screen time, digital well-being, mental health
- Medical subject headings
- Internet Addiction Disorder, Behavior, Addictive, Psychological Well-Being
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Short animated videosBehavioural
The short animated videos (approximately 2 minutes each) draw attention to the dangers of smartphone addiction.
Informational ControlBehavioural
A short fact sheet presenting written information and statistics about smartphone usage.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Animated videos | Experimental | Participants will watch two short, animated storytelling videos about digital addiction. Receives: Behavioral: Short animated videos |
| Informational Control | Active comparator | Participants will read a fact sheet containing written information and statistics about smartphone usage. Receives: Behavioral: Informational Control |
| Do-nothing control | No intervention | Participants will only complete the surveys. Participants do not receive any intervention or information about digital addiction. |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Smartphone Addiction Scale (SmAS) score
SmAS is a short 10 item validated scale measuring smartphone addiction. The minimum value is 10 and the maximum value is 60 for this scale.
Measured: Baseline, 2 weeks and 4 weeks post intervention
Mobile Phone Attachment Scale - Anxious Attachment Sub Scale (MPAS-AA)
The MPAS Anxious Attachment subscale comprises 7 items rated 1 (not at all true) to 5 (extremely true). Subscale scores were computed as the mean of the 7 items (range 1-5), with higher scores indicating greater anxious attachment to one's mobile phone. The MPAS-AA has demonstrated good internal consistency (α=.87) and external validity.
Measured: Baseline, immediate post-intervention (up to 24 hours), 2 weeks and 4 weeks post intervention
Secondary outcomes (4)
Mobile Phone Attachment Scale - Addiction Sub Scale (MPAS_Addiction)
Mobile phone addiction will be assessed with the MPAS Addiction subscale (6 items). Items are rated on a 5-point scale from 1 = not at all true to 5 = extremely true; responses are averaged to create a subscale score (range 1-5), with higher scores indicating greater addictive/problematic mobile phone use.
Measured: Baseline, 2 weeks and 4 weeks post intervention
Perceived Danger of Smartphone Overuse measured using a visual analogue scale (VAS)
Perceived danger of smartphone overuse will be assessed with a single-item 10-point slider (visual analogue-type scale) ranging from 0 = not at all dangerous to 10 = extremely dangerous. Higher scores indicate greater perceived danger.
Measured: Baseline, immediately post intervention exposure (up to 24 hours), 2 weeks and 4 weeks post intervention exposure
Self-reported daily smartphone use (past 2 weeks)
Self-reported daily smartphone use will be assessed via a single self-report item asking participants: 'On average, how many hours per day did you use your phone over the past two weeks?' Responses are recorded in 6 ordered categories: <1 h, 1-2 h, 2-4 h, 4-6 h, 6-8 h, >8 h, with higher categories indicating greater daily use.
Measured: Baseline, 2 weeks and 4 weeks post intervention exposure
Self-perceived smartphone addiction (single item; Olsen)
Self-perceived smartphone addiction will be assessed using Olsen's single-item smartphone addiction measure, asking agreement with the statement 'I am addicted to my smartphone' on a 6-point Likert scale from Strongly disagree (1) to Strongly agree (6). Higher scores indicate greater self-perceived smartphone addiction.
Measured: Baseline, immediately post intervention exposure (up to 24 hours) 2 weeks and 4 weeks post intervention exposure
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted20 May 2025
- Study start9 Feb 2026
- Primary completion26 Mar 2026
- Study completion26 Mar 2026
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Smartphone AddictionStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Stanford UniversityThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Triple blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Investigator, Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 6,000 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Stanford University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Maya Adam, Stanford University
- Investigators
- Maya U Adam, MD, Principal investigator, Stanford University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06979856
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 80171
- Acronym
- SAS
- Status last verified
- Mar 2026
- First submitted
- 6 May 2025
- Last updated
- 2 Apr 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 2 Apr 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Short, Animated Storytelling Videos to Reduce Smartphone Addiction in the US: Protocol for an Online, Randomized Controlled Trial
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06979856
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- SAS / 80171
- Conditions
- Smartphone Addiction
- Keywords
- Addictive Behavior, Smartphone addiction, screen time, digital well-being, mental health
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 6,000 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Stanford UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 9 Feb 2026 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 26 Mar 2026 (actual)
- Study completion
- 26 Mar 2026 (actual)
- First posted
- 20 May 2025 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This study will test the effect of exposure to short, animated storytelling videos on participants' perceived risk of smartphone overuse immediately after exposure, two weeks later and four weeks later.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Triple blind (participant, investigator, outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 3
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Animated videos | Experimental | Behavioral: Short animated videosParticipants will watch two short, animated storytelling videos about digital addiction. |
| Informational Control | Active comparator | Behavioral: Informational ControlParticipants will read a fact sheet containing written information and statistics about smartphone usage. |
| Do-nothing control | No intervention | –Participants will only complete the surveys. Participants do not receive any intervention or information about digital addiction. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 30 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- English Speaking
- Own a Smartphone
- Live in the US
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- None
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Short animated videosThe short animated videos (approximately 2 minutes each) draw attention to the dangers of smartphone addiction. | Behavioural | Animated videos |
| Informational ControlA short fact sheet presenting written information and statistics about smartphone usage. | Behavioural | Informational Control |
Primary outcome
Smartphone Addiction Scale (SmAS) score
Time frame: Baseline, 2 weeks and 4 weeks post intervention
SmAS is a short 10 item validated scale measuring smartphone addiction. The minimum value is 10 and the maximum value is 60 for this scale.
Mobile Phone Attachment Scale - Anxious Attachment Sub Scale (MPAS-AA)
Time frame: Baseline, immediate post-intervention (up to 24 hours), 2 weeks and 4 weeks post intervention
The MPAS Anxious Attachment subscale comprises 7 items rated 1 (not at all true) to 5 (extremely true). Subscale scores were computed as the mean of the 7 items (range 1-5), with higher scores indicating greater anxious attachment to one's mobile phone. The MPAS-AA has demonstrated good internal consistency (α=.87) and external validity.
4 secondary outcomes
Mobile Phone Attachment Scale - Addiction Sub Scale (MPAS_Addiction)
Time frame: Baseline, 2 weeks and 4 weeks post intervention
Perceived Danger of Smartphone Overuse measured using a visual analogue scale (VAS)
Time frame: Baseline, immediately post intervention exposure (up to 24 hours), 2 weeks and 4 weeks post intervention exposure
Self-reported daily smartphone use (past 2 weeks)
Time frame: Baseline, 2 weeks and 4 weeks post intervention exposure
Self-perceived smartphone addiction (single item; Olsen)
Time frame: Baseline, immediately post intervention exposure (up to 24 hours) 2 weeks and 4 weeks post intervention exposure
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 2 Apr 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Maya U Adam, MD principal investigator
Stanford University
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Short animated videos in people with Smartphone Addiction, run by Stanford University at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 3 inclusion and 1 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 2 Apr 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Smartphone Addiction Scale (SmAS) score (time frame: Baseline, 2 weeks and 4 weeks post intervention). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 2 Apr 2026.