In this Nov. 1, 2018 photo, Laurel Foster looks at Instagram in San Francisco. App developers say as teens scroll through Instagram and Snapchat, tap out texts, or hole up in their rooms watching YouTube, they’re leaving enormous digital footprints that may offer clues to their psyches. Studies are under way to find out. (AP Photo/Haven Daley)
Smartphones have been blamed for contributing to depression and suicidal behaviour in susceptible teens. But what if they could be used to identify kids at risk?
That idea is the spark for a race to develop phone apps to detect impending mental health crises. Developers say as teens scroll through Instagram and Snapchat, tap out texts, or hole up in their rooms watching YouTube, they’re leaving enormous digital footprints that may offer clues to their psyches.
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