Social Media Intervention for Online Victimized Youth

This feasibility pilot trial seeks to examine the feasibility and target engagement of a coping skills and psychoeducational intervention delivered via an automated conversational chatbot named SMILEY in reducing frequency and stress associated with online victimization among marginalized youth, including those who are Black, Hispanic, and LGBTQ+, and experiencing depression and online victimization. The primary inquiry of this study is whether SMILEY can enhance the safety and decrease stress levels in online environments for marginalized youth coping with depression and online victimization. Participants will engage with materials, including interactive web resources, to learn safe social media practices and provide coping skills for experiencing online victimization. These materials will cover topics such as managing online time, addressing negative comments, and fostering positive connections. Participants will interact with SMILEY at their own pace over 4 weeks. This interaction will provide information and guidance on dealing with online victimization and the associated stress.

Inclusion Criteria: * Adolescents age 12-18 * Current moderate to severe depression (PHQ-9-M ≥ 11) * Patients must screen positive for depression, PHQ-9-M score ≥ 11, and online victimization (OV). A positive screen will be OV that occurred "a few times" for at least one type of OV or "once" for at least two types of OV. Exclusion Criteria: * Conditions that might impair their ability to effectively deploy interventions, including current manic or psychotic episode, presence of a life-threatening medical condition requiring immediate treatment, intellectual or developmental disability precluding comprehension of study procedure * Referring providers will be advised that adolescents must be capable of safely participating, specifically that they do not need urgent medical or psychiatric treatment.