Growing evidence shows that social media use can take a toll on mental health and concentration, according to two recent studies.
A study published in JAMA Network Open suggests that taking a break from social media, even for just one week, can improve mental health outcomes in young adults.
The study included a two-week observational period to establish baseline social media use and behavioural patterns, followed by a one-week social media detox intervention to assess the impact of reduced social media use on behaviour and mental health. A total of 295 young adults, ages 18 to 24, participated and agreed to limit their social media use for seven days. During the study, average daily screen time on platforms like Instagram and TikTok dropped from just under two hours to around 30 minutes.
A one-week social media detox intervention significantly reduced symptoms of anxiety by 16.1 per cent, depression by 24.8 per cent, and insomnia by 14.5 per cent. The benefits were especially pronounced among participants who had higher baseline symptom severity.
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A separate study, published in Pediatrics Open Science, found that excessive social media use may affect children’s ability to focus. The Swedish study tracked 8,324 children aged 9–10 over four years. Children reported how much time they spent on social media, watching TV or videos, and playing video games, while parents provided information about their attention spans and levels of hyperactivity or impulsiveness.
Social media use increased steadily from 30 minutes per day at age 9 to 2.5 hours by age 13, despite most platforms requiring users to be at least 13 years old. Children who spent more time on platforms such as Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and Facebook showed a gradual decline in their ability to concentrate. Interestingly, no similar link was found for watching television or playing video games.
“Our study suggests that it is specifically social media that affects children’s ability to concentrate,” the study author said. “Social media entails constant distractions in the form of messages and notifications, and the mere thought of whether a message has arrived can act as a mental distraction. This affects the ability to stay focused and could explain the association.”
