Informatie For Adolescents

Social media, Online communication, Crime Involvement and Adolescent Lives Study – SOCIALs

What is the research about?

We are conducting research into how young people use social media, what they encounter there, and how this relates to behaviour. We would like to know how you use social media and what you think about it. This will help us better understand how young people interact with each other and how they differ from each other.

Why should I take part?

• Be part of something meaningful! Your input helps scientists understand how social media affects young people like you.
• Make your voice heard, and share your experiences and opinions about being online.
• Get rewarded 😊 As a token of our appreciation, you’ll receive a gift voucher each time you participate. For the first survey (January-March 2026), you will receive a 10-euro gift voucher! Also, participants have a chance to win awesome prizes, like a pair of Airpods Pro or a Nintendo Switch. We will draw two winners from all first-wave participants.

Wat will I do?

During one lesson period you will complete a questionnaire.

We ask questions about:

✅ What you do and see on social media

✅ Who your friends are

✅ What you consider important and what you consider right or wrong

✅ Whether you do things that are forbidden, and whether you help others

✅ Your opinion about rules and laws

✅ Personal things such as your home situation, background, your character, and whether you use alcohol or drugs

If you participate in the first wave, we might invite you for one of the other studies: the smartphone study or the VR experiment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you make sure my answers are private?

🚫 No. What you fill in will remain confidential. We will not share your answers with others, including parents, teachers, the police, or others.

Will my friends or teachers see my answers?

🔒 Your name will not be stored with your answers.

📝 By participating, you give permission for your answers to be stored. We also store your answers about prohibited activities, ethnicity, alcohol and drug use, and your use of social media.

👉 You can read more about how we handle your data securely here: https://nscr.nl/eenvoudige-privacyverklaring-voor-deelnemers-aan-wetenschappelijk-onderzoek/

Who will have access to my answers?

Other researchers may also use the anonymous data.

We store the data for 10 years. This is necessary so that our work can be verified.

Other researchers may also use the data later for their research. Your answers cannot be traced back to you: we only share anonymous data with other researchers.

Do I have to participate?

Nope. Participation is voluntary! You decide for yourself whether you want to participate.

What if I no longer want to participate?

❌ You can stop at any time or skip certain questions.
❌ Afterwards, you can ask us to delete your answers without having to give a reason.

What happens to the answers?

If you participate, we will use your answers for scientific research. By agreeing to this research, you give your consent. Your answers will be used together with the answers of other young people for our research. We will ensure that no one can see which answers are yours.

Your answers will help us to produce:

• Scientific articles – in which researchers write about what they have discovered.
• A report for your school – which will describe, for example, how students at your school use social media. Your name will not be mentioned; it is anonymous.
• Student theses – students will use the answers for their final assignment to graduate.

Any questions or need help afterwards?

Do you have any questions after completing the form? Or would you like to view or delete your answers? Please send an email to  ProjectSocials@nscr.nl.

Do the questions make you feel confused or sad? Talk about it with someone you trust (like your parents, a friend, or a teacher)!

Or contact:

• Jongeren Hulp Online (jongerenhulponline.nl) – Free and anonymous advice
• Alles oké supportlijn (allesoke.nl) – chat/phone free and anonymous (18-25 jaar)
• De Kindertelefoon (kindertelefoon.nl) – chat/phone free and anonymous (tot 18 jaar)