Social Media Detox Linked to Improved Mental Health in Young Adults

A new study published in JAMA Network Open highlights the mental health benefits of a short social media detox for young adults. Conducted by Dr. John Torous, director of the Division of Digital Psychiatry at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, the study involved 373 participants aged 18 to 24.

Initially, participants used social media as they normally would for two weeks, allowing researchers to collect objective data on their usage through an app. During this period, participants averaged approximately two hours daily on platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and X, formerly known as Twitter.

At the end of the two weeks, participants were offered a week-long detox, with 80% opting in. During the detox, social media usage plummeted to around 30 minutes a day. The findings revealed a 16% reduction in anxiety symptoms, a 24% decrease in depression symptoms, and a 14.5% decrease in insomnia symptoms by the end of the week.

Dr. Elombe Calvert, co-author of the study, noted that these improvements are significant, especially considering traditional therapies often take eight to 12 weeks to yield similar results. Additionally, the study found that while social media use decreased, overall screen time remained the same, indicating that the negative impacts are specific to social media rather than screen usage as a whole.

Psychologist Mitch Prinstein from the American Psychological Association emphasized the remarkable nature of such rapid improvements in mental health. Experts advise practical strategies for a social media detox, such as blocking out specific times for social media use, making it harder to log on, and avoiding nighttime scrolling, which can disrupt sleep.

Dr. Amir Afkhami from George Washington University suggests replacing social media time with physical activities. For those with underlying mental health conditions, seeking professional treatment is recommended.

This study underscores a growing body of evidence supporting the mental health benefits of reducing social media use among young adults.