23 July, 2026. Press Release. The first phase of the international research project BootStRaP has been completed in Lithuania, involving around 400 adolescents from six schools. This is the first study of its kind in Lithuania, where teenagers’ digital habits and their links to emotional well-being are evaluated in real time. The project is being conducted in 14 countries, including United Kingdom and Australia, and the research spans 9 European nations, involving at this stage around 2200 adolescents from 48 schools across Europe.

The five-year project has received support from the Ministry of Education, Science and Sports of the Republic of Lithuania, as well as active engagement from participating schools, teachers, students, and their parents. According to the project organizers, the successful implementation of the first phase would not have been possible without this collective effort.

 “This is not just a research phase – it’s a testament to the power of community collaboration. What these young people are doing is invaluable to science: their participation helps us understand how the digital environment affects youth mental health. I am sincerely grateful to every student, their parents, teachers, and school communities – their trust and openness to innovation lay the foundation for meaningful change. In science, this is a crucial step toward better understanding the emotional well-being of our children and youth,” – says Dr. Julius Burkauskas, project lead in Lithuania and researcher at Lithuanian University of Health Sciences 

Students aged 12–16 who participated in the study used a specially developed app for six months. The app evaluated their online activity, periodically sent questionnaires about their mood and well-being, and included reaction time tests. The app was co-developed with young people themselves – involving adolescents in international teams both in person and online.  Our youth took part in two such meetings – one in the United Kingdom and another in Portugal.

“I’m proud of our students – not only did they stay engaged for the entire six months, but they also proved they can be true partners in science. They were curious, patient, and most importantly – genuinely involved. They also grew personally: learning to observe their emotions and understand how their digital lives affect their daily experiences. To me, this is more than just a study – it’s a model of trust and collaboration. First, the parents believed in it, and then the youth followed – responsibly and openly, ready to be part of change,”– says Rozvita Brazaitienė, Vice Principal for Education at President Valdas Adamkus Gymnasium, expert teacher of information technology

Participating schools in Lithuania:

  • Vilnius Žvėrynas Gymnasium 
  • Kaunas President Valdas Adamkus Gymnasium
  • Palanga Old Gymnasium (Western Lithuania )
  • Vilnius Taikos Progymnasium
  • Palanga Vladas Jurgučius Progymnasium (Western Lithuania )
  • Vydmantai Gymnasium, Kretinga District (Western Lithuania)

Preparations are currently underway for the second phase, which will also involve around 400 students. A third phase will follow later, with the total number of participants in Lithuania expected to reach up to 1,200 adolescents. Across Europe, approximately 10,000 young people are expected to take part in the study.

The project in Lithuania is implemented by the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, with the Digital Ethics Centre as a project communication partner. The research is funded by the Horizon Europe program, UK Research and Innovation, and the Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation.

 About BootStRaP project

The BootStRaP: Boosting Societal Adaptation and Mental Health in a Rapidly Digitalizing, Post-Pandemic Europe is a Europe-wide study uniting scientists from 14 countries and 22 institutions to address and reduce the risks of harmful internet use among teenagers—the online generation. The BootStRaP study follows the success of the European Network for Problematic Usage of the Internet (2018–2022), which significantly advanced global understanding of the links between health, internet use, and problematic behaviors. Find more here: https://www.internetandme.eu/

Stay updated on the newest information:

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Was this study of interest to the local Lithuanian media?

Yes, the initial milestones of the BootStRaP study generated widespread interest across national, regional, and institutional media channels, as well as public radio broadcasts. 

National Media Outlets (Mainstream & Popular):

  1. DELFI (Major National News Portal – Most popular digital media channel in Lithuania):
    https://www.delfi.lt/news/daily/education/pirmas-toks-tyrimas-lietuvoje-apklausti-apie-400-paaugliu-tikimasi-idomiu-rezultatu-120128306
  2. LRT National Radio (Public Broadcaster – Highly reputable national radio channel): Feature interview on the morning show “Ryto garsai”, featuring a student participant from Kaunas:
    https://www.lrt.lt/mediateka/audio/ryto-garsai?episode=2625024&season=%2Fradioteka%2Flaida%2Fryto-garsai%2F2025 . Key excerpts from the interview were also broadcasted during the daily national radio news cycles.
  3. Verslo savaitė / Jaunimo naujienos (Specialized National Media – Business and youth-focused portal):
    https://jaunimonaujienos.lt/lietuvos-jaunimas-padeda-mokslui-unikaliame-tyrime/

Regional & Local Press (Targeted Audience):

  1. Vakarų ekspresas (Major Regional Newspaper – Leading daily press outlet for Western Lithuania – where a few participating schools are):
    https://ve.lt/aktualijos/lietuva/tai-ka-daro-sie-jauni-zmones-mokslui-yra-neikainojama-tyrimas-lietuvoje-igauna
    (Facebook post: https://www.facebook.com/Vakaruekspresas/posts/pfbid0TZo2VZpUxaq9WXpwfLgH2769SdjWB15Ru8kMpA56KHfm37Zi6U3xAiw74jmMgCYJl)
  2. Atvira Klaipėda (Regional News Portal – Focused on the coastal region and Western Lithuania):
    https://www.atviraklaipeda.lt/2025/07/23/tarptautiniame-tyrime-dalyvauja-trys-pajurio-mokyklos/
  3. Mūsų Kretinga (Local Community News Outlet – Specific to the Kretinga district):
    https://musukretinga.lt/tai-ka-daro-sie-jauni-zmones-mokslui-yra-neikainojama-tyrimas-lietuvoje-igauna-pagreiti/
    (Facebook post: https://www.facebook.com/musukretinga.lt/posts/pfbid07FkABPVaduVE92u4RHp2CE4FpuzQhaTcHcozTAScvGyNLrnx5tDoyE9XZCEMNNb9l)
  4. Mūsų Palanga (Local Newspaper – Dedicated to the Palanga resort community):
    https://www.musupalanga.lt/news/3977705/tai-ka-daro-sie-jauni-zmones-mokslui-yra-neikainojama-tyrimas-lietuvoje-igauna-pagreiti
  5. Palangos Tiltas (Local Newspaper – Well-established local print and digital outlet):
    https://www.palangostiltas.lt/www.palangostiltas.lt/quottai+ka+daro+sie+jauni+zmones+mokslui+yra+neikainojama++tyrimas+lietuvoje+igauna+pagreiti,7,2,21188.html
  6. Žemaitijos Gidas (Regional Portal – Covering the broader Samogitia region):
    https://zemaitijosgidas.lt/tarptautinis-tyrimas-bootstrap-lietuvoje/

Government & Institutional Channels (Official Visibility):

Partner Dissemination Channels (Project-specific):