Along with Pedro Pascal’s viral tweets and fan edits, we know that social media has many disadvantages.
Many studies show that this can have a negative impact on your self-esteem and mental health.
But trying to cut down on your time on TikTok, Twitter, Snapchat, and Instagram can seem like a daunting task, given that for many of us, they are so ingrained in our daily lives.
Well, a new study has found that you don’t need to do a full digital detox to reap the benefits.
Research shows that reducing your time on social media by just 15 minutes a day can improve your health.
In a study published in the Journal of Technology in Behavioral Science, participants (ages 20 to 25) were asked to cut their social media use by 15 minutes a day for three months.
The results were compared to groups that were not asked to cut back on use or were explicitly asked to do something else during those 15 minutes.
The results showed that the group that was asked to cut down on their use had fewer colds, warts, better sleep, and less depression.
Immune function improved by 15%, sleep quality improved by 50%, depression symptoms decreased by 30%.
While other groups showed no change.
Those who were asked to reduce usage actually cut it by 40 minutes rather than the 15 as requested, and the group that was asked not to make any changes actually used social media more, increasing by 10 minutes.
The group, specifically asked to do something other than social media, also ended up increasing their total usage by about 25 minutes a day, which scientists say may indicate we don’t like being told how to spend your own time.
Professor Phil Reid of the School of Psychology at Swansea University, who led the study, said: “When people cut back on social media use, their lives can improve in many ways, including the benefits to their physical health and psychological well-being.”
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