Cut social media time by 15 minutes to improve your health
It is widely acknowledged that social media has several negative effects on self-esteem and mental health. But knowing that still doesn’t make it easy to simply reduce one’s social media usage as it is deeply embedded in our daily routines.
But a new study published in the Journal of Technology in Behavioral Science suggests that even a mere reduction of 15 minutes a day could positively impact our health.
The study involved participants between the ages of 20 to 25 who were asked to reduce their social media usage by 15 minutes daily for three months.
The results showed that this group experienced fewer colds and warts, better sleep quality, and reduced depressive symptoms. There was also a 15% improvement in immune function, a 50% improvement in sleep quality, and 30% fewer depressive symptoms.
Interestingly, the group that was asked to reduce their usage actually ended up cutting it by 40 minutes, while the group that was asked not to make any changes increased their usage by 10 minutes. The group that was asked to do something else during those 15 minutes ended up increasing their overall usage by around 25 minutes a day.
According to Professor Phil Reed from Swansea University’s School of Psychology, “When people reduce their social media use, their lives can improve in many ways – including benefits for their physical health and psychological well-being.”
Thus, a total digital detox may not be necessary, but even a small reduction in social media usage could have significant positive impacts.