Another successful round of seed grants culminated this spring (2026) with TYDE awarding one small ($30K) grant to Henry Kautz (Computer Science) and two large ($100K) grants to Gerald Higginbotham (Batten) and Naila Smith (SEHD).
Professor Kautz’s project “Understanding the Impact of Viewing Image and Video-First Social Media Content on Emerging Adults’ Mental Health” will explore the relationship between youth’s time on social media and mental health by factoring in the content viewed. The project will develop a pilot test to collect and analyze data to compare with mental health assessments, which will potentially inform both future policies and interventions.
Assistant Professor Higginbotham’s project “Understanding How Social Media Shapes Maladaptive Youth Perspectives on Firearms” will explore ways that social/digital media shapes emerging adults’ belief that gun ownership makes them safer. It aims to create a digital intervention disrupting this belief formation during a critical period of youth, when these beliefs are malleable. The goal is to reduce a substantial risk to youth mental and physical well-being.
Assistant Professor Naila Smith’s project “Social Media Narratives and Identity Development in Immigrant-Origin Emerging Adults” will examine ways that digital media simultaneously serves as risk to identity development as well as source of resilience for immigrant-origin youth. The findings will lead to improved supports for belonging, thriving, and mental health among this often-overlooked population.
TYDE is currently accepting applications for its bonus seed grant cycle. The deadline is May 26, 2026.
