About Candice Odgers

Biography and Positions

Candice Odgers is a Professor in the Department of Psychological Science and Associate Dean for Research in the School of Social Ecology at UC Irvine [8]. She was named Chancellor’s Professor [14] and appointed to the California Innovation Council [12]. Previously associated with Duke University, she received awards like the CIFAR Child Brain and Development Research Award [7].

Social Media and Teen Mental Health

Odgers is a leading skeptic of strong causal claims linking social media to rising teen depression and anxiety rates. In podcasts and articles, she calls for careful evidence reading, noting weak correlations and risks of restrictive policies diverting from effective interventions [1][4][5][6][9][10][11][17][18]. She debates figures like Jonathan Haidt, highlighting incomplete science and media hype [4][6][9]. Op-eds urge stopping 'freakouts' over screen time [10] and question if all screen time is harmful [17].

Digital Technology and Child Development

Her research examines 21st-century technologies' role in human development [2] and online experiences' impact on children's mental health [1]. She explores AI in education, finding limited use [1], and Californians’ mixed AI views on youth [16]. NSCA membership informs her tech-mental health discussions [11].

Adolescent Risk Behaviors

Odgers investigates macro-to-micro triggers of early adolescent substance exposure [3], integrating neighborhood and individual factors in developmental psychology.

Policy and Public Influence

She cautions against youth social media bans [13][15] and promotes research-based reflections [6]. Quoted in global debates [13][15][18], her influence shapes innovation policy [12] and public discourse on screens [10][17].