Title 42 — The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-73

§19066 Technology and behavioral science research

Title 42 › Chapter CHAPTER 163— - RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, COMPETITION, AND INNOVATION › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER III— - NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION FOR THE FUTURE › Part Part E— - Fundamental Research › § 19066

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Director must award competitive grants that are reviewed for quality to study how social media and consumer technology use—especially by children and teens—relates to mental health, behavior, and substance use disorders, and whether these technologies help explain rising rates of these problems in communities with long-term economic distress. The Director must work with other federal agencies, including the Department of Health and Human Services, to avoid duplicating research.

Full Legal Text

Title 42, §19066

The Public Health and Welfare — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The Director shall make awards on a merit-reviewed, competitive basis for research and development to—

(1)increase understanding of social media and consumer technology access and use patterns and related mental health, behavioral, and substance use disorder issues, particularly for children and adolescents; and

(2)explore the role of social media and consumer technology in rising rates of mental health and substance use disorder issues, including within communities experiencing long-term economic distress.

(b)In making awards under this subsection, the Director shall, for purposes of avoiding duplication of activities and research, consult, collaborate, and coordinate with the heads of other relevant Federal departments and agencies, including the Department of Health and Human Services.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

42 U.S.C. § 19066

Title 42 — The Public Health and Welfare

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73