Social Media's Negative Effects on Teenagers' Brain. Researchers are exploring more nuanced approaches. The SMART Schools project, for example, compares the mental and physical health outcomes of students in schools with and without cell phone restrictions. This project combines a natural experiment with qualitative research, including focus groups with students, parents, and educators. Understanding how teens use social media and the associated feelings can provide valuable insights. However, such research is time-consuming and requires a shift from solely relying on big data.