What is this study about?
We are conducting research in a privacy-preserving, ethical way to understand how people use the internet. By participating in this study, you will help us investigate how people interact online and how we can improve everyone's online experience.
Can anyone install the app and participate in the study?
Participation in the study is by invitation only, and contingent on the participant reading and agreeing to the study’s consent form. Our software will not work without an invitation and valid participation ID number. If you are interested in participating in the study, please enter your email address here.
Can I trust you with my data? Does the study have IRB approval?
Yes. This research project is under supervision of, and has been approved by, Carnegie Mellon University's Institutional Review Board (IRB), under protocol #STUDY2017_00000297. It is built to uphold the highest standards of privacy and confidentiality for its participants.
Will my personal information be recorded?
No. While our software records some of your online behaviors (with your consent), it has safeguards to prevent collecting personal identifiable information. See our privacy page for more details.
Who can access the data stored by the app? Will the data be shared with others?
The data is accessible only to the team of researchers working on this project, and governed by
a strict protocol to protect it. Raw data will never be shared with third parties. Data analysis findings will be shared publicly,
e.g., in academic publications or presentations, but individual participants will not be identified.
Who funds this study?
The study is funded by the Sloan Foundation (an American philanthropic nonprofit organization) - as well as by the Block Center at Carnegie Mellon University, George Mason University PEP Center, and the Warren Center at the University of Pennsylvania.