The Popular Stereotype About the Benefits of Quitting Social Media Has Been Dispelled
Researchers from the University of Antwerp and Ghent University found that completely quitting social media does not automatically make people happier or calmer. Their findings were published in the journal Scientific Reports.
The team analyzed 10 separate studies involving 4,674 participants. In these experiments, volunteers stopped using social media for periods ranging from one day to four weeks.
Scientists wanted to determine whether a so-called “digital detox” could improve mental well-being. In recent years, social media has often been linked to anxiety, stress, and unhealthy comparisons with other people’s lives.
Because of these concerns, temporary breaks from apps and online platforms have become increasingly popular. Some researchers suggested that avoiding social media could reduce emotional pressure and improve mood.
Others believed people might spend more time on healthier activities such as exercise, hobbies, communication with friends, or rest. However, earlier studies produced mixed results.
Some participants reported feeling better after avoiding social media, while others experienced loneliness or no noticeable emotional changes at all.
The Final Results Surprised Researchers
To better understand the issue, scientist Laura Lemahie and her colleagues conducted a large meta-analysis using data from previous research.
The team focused on three main indicators: positive emotions, negative emotions, and overall life satisfaction. The final results showed no statistically significant differences between people who stopped using social media and those who continued using it normally.
Participants did not become substantially happier, less anxious, or more satisfied with life. Researchers also discovered that the length of the detox period had little impact.
A short break from social media produced results similar to a longer break lasting several weeks.
According to the authors, the advantages and disadvantages of quitting social media may balance each other out. People may escape constant notifications and information overload, but they can also lose entertainment and social interaction.
The researchers noted several limitations in the available studies. Most participants were students from Western countries, meaning the findings may not apply equally to all age groups or cultures.
In addition, some volunteers admitted they still checked social media during the experiments.
The scientists believe that a healthier strategy may involve changing online habits rather than abandoning social media completely. Limiting screen time, disabling notifications, and using apps more consciously could potentially be more effective approaches.
We previously reported on another study conducted in Germany. There, local scientists sought to answer the global question of why people find it so difficult to overcome internet addiction.
