06-01-12 A multi-year, multifaceted initiative titled “The Blackberry Project” is examining teens’ online, mobile, and social media habits in depth. Beginning in 2003, the families of 200 nine-year-olds agreed to let University of Texas-Dallas psychologist Marion Underwood archive every text message, email, photo, and instant message sent to and by them. The captured information — archived via social media provider Arkovi — has provided insight into the evolution of their friendships, emotional well-being, and preferred channels of communication.
The project has evolved with the maturation of the participants. Now that the students are age 13 and legally allowed to use social media websites, Underwood is archiving their interactions via these channels as well, including Twitter and Facebook.
The project is partially funded through a National Institutes of Health grant. Sources: Arkovi, 137 E. Iron Ave., 2nd Fl., Dover, OH 44622; 866-222-2334; www.arkovi.com.
University of Texas, Dallas, Marion Underwood, 800 W. Campbell Rd., MS GR41, Richardson, TX 78080; 972-883-2470; marion.underwood@utdallas.edu.
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