A Short Social Media Detox Improves Mental Health, a Study Shows

A new study in JAMA Network Open adds strong evidence that even brief reductions in social media use can meaningfully improve mental health, particularly among young adults. Using objective phone data, researchers found that cutting social media from about two hours a day to roughly 30 minutes for one week produced notable drops in anxiety, depression and insomnia symptoms, with the greatest gains among those starting with elevated distress.

Findings reinforce growing research linking mindful social media use to improved well-being and highlight practical strategies—such as setting time limits, reducing nighttime use and replacing passive scrolling with physical activity—to support healthier digital habits across communities. Read more from NPR here.