JRC science for digital wellbeing: Shaping a safer and happier digital future

In today’s rapid digital environment, understanding how technology affects people’s wellbeing is more important than ever. The Joint Research Centre (JRC) has launched the Science for Digital Wellbeing initiative to explore how digital tools shape health, behaviour, and everyday life, and to provide evidence-based insights for EU digital policies. This work looks beyond the prevention of harm and highlights the positive outcomes digital technology can create. 

The initiative addresses a range of societal challenges which are made evident through digital transformation. These include problematic social media use, exposure to harmful content, cyberbullying, and the emerging risks related to generative AI. JRC’s researchers study how online engagement influences mental health, academic outcomes, and behaviour, particularly in adolescent individuals who are more exposed to these risks. The JRC team also analyses key elements such as platform design, types of engagement, and individual characteristics which shape the impact of digital technologies. 

Digital wellbeing can also be considered a public policy priority. JRC evidence informs EU-wide discussions on issues such as the lack of a common definition of cyberbullying, inequalities in digital access, and the educational impacts of increased screen time. Their research supports the development of future longitudinal studies and interventions to help policymakers, educators, and families encourage healthier online behaviours across Europe.  

Open data plays a crucial role in this work by enabling researchers, developers, and policymakers to better understand digital behaviour and its effects. Explore related open data to support your own research or initiatives on the European Data Portal. 

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