Collection Overview 

Scientific Reports has launched a Guest-Edited Collection on Intervention Research Using Mobile Devices, Apps, and Social Media. 

Although mobile devices such as smartphones and smart watches, mobile apps, and social media can have negative effects, they can also be used to promote positive habits and behaviors. Harnessing these technologies in intervention research can yield powerful results, from teaching users to identify mis- and disinformation online to promoting healthy sleep habits and making more sustainable consumption choices.

This will be a Collection of original research papers  and will be open for submissions from all authors – on the condition that the manuscripts fall within the scope of the Collection and of Scientific Reports more generally. We are welcoming submissions until 28th April 2026.

Why is this Collection important?

"How can we question the hyper connection of contemporary human beings when so much of our lives unfold through screens? Our relationships are shaped by our presence on social media; the mobile phone has become a technological extension of our behavior; and we increasingly rely on countless applications to track our sleep, physical activity, and productivity. Although these changes have profoundly transformed human behavior, we are still far from fully understanding their true scope and implications. This special issue invites scholars to conduct rigorous intervention research to explore how these technologies genuinely transform human conduct, both as drivers of positive change and as potential sources of behavioral risk."

- Dr. L. Javier Cabeza-Ramírez, Guest Editor

"Intervention research using mobile devices, apps, and social media is highly relevant in contemporary society due to unprecedented global reach, demonstrated efficacy across health domains, and the urgent need for scalable behavioral interventions. The latest crisis, especially the COVID-19 pandemic significantly accelerated adoption of mobile devices, over 5 billion people use nowadays smartphones, creating urgent need for technology-supported behavioral interventions. The field requires more rigorous large-scale research and improved implementation strategies to realize its full potential."

- Dr. Dan-Cristian Dabija, Guest Editor

"The integration of mobile devices, apps, and social media into intervention research represents an exciting frontier in health and behavioral sciences. These tools offer scalable, real-time, and personalized support, bridging gaps in traditional care and reaching populations previously underserved. I'm excited about this collection because it showcases innovative methodologies and cross-disciplinary collaboration. Its impact could redefine how we deliver, evaluate, and adapt interventions globally. Researchers should submit to this collection to contribute to a growing evidence base that is reshaping intervention design and dissemination for the digital age."

- Dr. Aroldo A. Dargél, Guest Editor

Why submit to a collection?  

Collections like this one help promote high-quality science. They are led by Guest Editors, who are experts in their fields, and In-House Editors and are supported by a dedicated team of Commissioning Editors and Managing Editors at Springer Nature. Collection manuscripts typically see higher citations, downloads, and Altmetric scores and provide a one-stop-shop on a cutting-edge topic of interest.  

Who is involved?

Guest Editors:

• L. Javier Cabeza-Ramírez, University of Córdoba, Spain
• Dan-Cristian Dabija, Babeș-Bolyai University, Romania
• Aroldo A. Dargél, Institut Pasteur, France

Internal Team:

• In-House Editor: Rachel Toth, Scientific Reports, UK
• Commissioning Editor: Jenny Knowles, Fully OA Brands, Springer Nature, UK
• Managing Editor: Aliya Anwar, Fully OA Brands, Springer Nature, UK

How can I submit my paper?

Visit the Collection page for more information on the Collection, and how to submit your article.