Social media is definitely fun, but its disadvantages can be more than its benefits. Stanford University of America has recently done a big study on social media and mental health.
This research showed what are the benefits of distance from social media and who get the most benefit from it.
How was the study done?
The name of the study was’ The Effect of Deactivating Facebook and Instagram on Users’ Emotional State ‘. Under this, more than 35,000 social media users were selected in a random manner. He was given money to deactivate Facebook or Instagram just six weeks before the US presidential election.
Researchers compared the impact of social media detox of one week and one and a half months. He surveyed the users to know how happy, sad or worried during this time they were feeling. Some users told what they did in free time from social media.
What was the result?
- The mood of Facebook shutdown showed up to 6%.
- There was a 4% improvement in mood in Instagram closure.
- Even though these figures look small, the improvement in mental health was clearly visible.
- Facebook: Users aged 35 years or older felt the most happy.
- Instagram: Youth aged 18 to 24, especially women, were feeling the most positive effect.
- Instagram users immediately started using other apps.
- Facebook users spent an average of 9 minutes away from the screen on an average, but most of their free time also went to other apps.
Study limits
- Only 0.5% of the people joined this study, who were willing to leave social media with money.
- The study time was also important, it lasted only for 6 weeks before the US election.
- Information about the mood of users was taken on the basis of survey, in which people can try to show better about themselves.
- Also, when someone knows that he is part of the study, his answers may also be affected.