Studies Show Digital Detox Can Improve Cognitive Function and Mental Health

Recent court cases in the United States have addressed the impact of social media on users. In California, a jury last month ordered Meta and YouTube to pay $6 million in damages to a young woman who became addicted to the platforms. In a related case in New Mexico, a jury found Meta harmful to children's mental health and ordered the company to pay $375 million for violating state consumer protection law.

The companies have appealed both verdicts. These rulings occurred amid growing scientific research on the effects of excessive social media use.

A study published last year in PNAS Nexus involved 467 participants who blocked internet access on their phones for two weeks using an app. Participants could still make calls, send texts, and access the internet on other devices like tablets or laptops.

Researchers noted that phone use is often more compulsive than computer use and interrupts social activities. The study found that average daily online time decreased from 314 minutes to 161 minutes. Participants reported improvements in mood, sustained attention, and mental health.

The authors stated that the change in sustained attention was equivalent to reversing 10 years of age-related decline. Even participants who did not fully adhere to the detox showed improvements. Kostadin Kushlev, an associate professor of psychology at Georgetown University and one of the study's authors, stated that permanent restriction is not necessary.

Noah Castelo, the study's co-author and an associate professor at the University of Alberta School of Business, said the research stemmed from his personal experiences with cellphone interference in daily life.

Another study, published in November in JAMA Network Open by Harvard researchers, examined the effects of reducing smartphone use for one week. Participants experienced average reductions in anxiety, depression, and insomnia. The lead author, John Torous, an associate professor and staff psychiatrist at Harvard Medical School, noted that effects vary by individual and emphasized identifying those most vulnerable, such as people who compare themselves negatively to others, have sleep issues, or use online platforms to cope with loneliness.

Policy responses to social media harms differ across regions. This week, Massachusetts advanced a bill to ban social media use for children under 14. Indonesia recently implemented a ban for those under 16.