The Effect of Deactivating Facebook and Instagram on Users’ Emotional State
This article dives into the psychological benefits of taking a break from social media, specifically Facebook and Instagram. The findings from two large experiments before the 2020 U.S. election reveal that users experienced a noticeable uplift in their emotional well-being after deactivating these platforms for six weeks. This information may come in handy if you’re feeling the weight of social media on your mood.
Key Points
- A study examined the emotional impact of deactivating Facebook and Instagram around the 2020 U.S. election.
- Participants who stopped using Facebook reported a 0.060 standard deviation increase in happiness and reduction in anxiety.
- Those who deactivated Instagram saw a 0.041 standard deviation improvement in their emotional state.
- The benefits were more pronounced for users over 35 on Facebook and younger women on Instagram.
- These findings highlight potential mental health benefits of reducing social media use.
Why should I read this?
If you’ve ever wondered how stepping away from the perpetual scroll can impact your mood, this article is for you. It’s not just some touchy-feely advice; the data backs up that deactivating these platforms could actually lead to a happier state of mind. So, save yourself some time and feel good about taking that social media break!