Information For Parents

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

Participation of your child

What is the purpose of the study?

We want to gain a better understanding of how young people use social media and how this influences their friendships and behaviour.

We want to follow a group of young people over time. We will ask them to complete a questionnaire three times: in 2026, 2027, and 2028. A small number of these young people will also be asked to participate in other studies (via their smartphone and using VR (virtual reality)). If your child is selected for this, we will send you separate information about it.

What will your child be doing?

Your child will complete a questionnaire lasting approximately 30 minutes during school or college hours. One year later and two years later, we will ask participating young people if they would like to complete another questionnaire. If they are still attending the same school, this will again take place during school hours.

We ask questions about:

• What they do and see on social media
• Who their friends are
• What they consider important and what they consider right or wrong
• Whether they do things that are forbidden, and whether they help others
• Their opinion about rules and laws
• Personal things such as their home situation, background, character, and whether they use alcohol or drugs

Why should my child participate?

• Contribute to vital research that helps us better understand the role of social media in young people’s lives, and the effects of social media on your child’s behaviour
• Promote safer environments: Your child’s participation supports the creation of tools and strategies that make schools and online spaces safer and more supportive.
• Participation is always optional, and we ensure that young people (and parents, when needed) know exactly what’s involved.

Your own participation

What does it involve?

You fill out a questionnaire that takes about 20 minutes to complete.

In this questionnaire, we ask about:

• Who you are as a person
• Your relationship with your child
• Parenting in general
• Parenting in the area of social media
• Your and your child’s use of social media
• Alcohol and drug use by you and your child
• Your and your child’s alcohol and drug use
• Whether you and your child have ever done anything forbidden, and whether you help others
• Your opinion about rules and laws

Why should I participate?

• Parents play a key role in shaping young people’s digital lives. Your input helps us understand how family dynamics influence online behaviour and wellbeing.
• Help improve support strategies for families, schools, and communities.
• Participation is voluntary, confidential, and easy to fit into your schedule.

What do you get in return? 

• A €20 gift voucher for participating.
• Personal report (optional): If desired, we can provide you with a personal report on how your parenting approach to social media compares to that of hundreds of other parents. (The answers from the other participating parents are anonymous). This provides insight into where you are already doing well and where there are opportunities for improvement.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do I need to give my consent for?

If your child is younger than 16, we need your consent for them to participate in the study. Read more information and give your consent here: information letter. Without your consent, your child may not participate in the study.

We also ask for your consent to store your contact details so that we can contact you in the future to participate in the study yourself.

What if I want to withdraw my consent?

Have you already given your consent, but do not want your child to participate after all? You can withdraw your consent at any time. We will then delete all data relating to you and your child.

We will start distributing the questionnaires in schools on January 1, 2026. Please withdraw your consent before December 31, 2025. Otherwise, there is a chance that your child will have already participated before we receive your message. We will still delete all data, but your child will have already participated.

You can withdraw your consent via:

Email: projectsocials@nscr.nl
Phone/WhatApp: 06 25490826

What are my child’s and my rights with regard to the study?

• Participation is voluntary.
• You and your child may withdraw at any time without having to give a reason.
• You or your child may request to view and retain your own data at a later date.
• You or your child may request that the data be deleted at a later date (after participation has ended).

What happens to my child’s and my data?

If you or your child participates, we will use the answers for scientific research. This is called ‘processing personal data’. By giving your consent, you consent to this processing. Your answers will be used for analysis, but we will ensure that no one can see that the answers are yours.

Your answers will help us to create:

• Scientific articles
• Personal reports for other participating parents – your name will not be included here, it is anonymous
• Student theses

Some questions concern sensitive topics, such as ethnicity, alcohol and drug use, social media use (special personal data), and prohibited activities (criminal personal data). These are considered “special data,” and by agreeing, you also consent to our processing of this special data.

With this consent, you also give us permission to link your answers to the answers your child has given and will give in this study.