Stanford paid 36,000 people to ditch social media for 6 weeks and was stunned by the results

It's no secret that most of us wake up every morning reaching for the phone. What often starts are quick check-up on updates from our friends hours later turns into a hollow feeling from comparison or a headache from information overload. That's why researchers at Stanford University decided to find the key to reclaiming our mental well-being, and what they found out left them stunned. 

The researchers asked about 36,000 Facebook and Instagram users to log off in the weeks leading up to the 2020 U.S. presidential election, and the results showed that their emotional well-being improved. The participants were split into two groups; about 275 were paid to deactivate their accounts for six weeks, while the rest were told to log off for just a week. And the results clearly showed a significant correlation between abandoning social media and getting a giant boost in the daily mood, especially for Facebook users, who stayed off for longer.

Their emotional well-being improved big time compared to the control group. Instagram users also saw improvements in their mood, but a bit less. Moreover, it was the above-35 group of Facebook users, undecided voters, and those without college degrees who showed the most improvement. Meanwhile, the greatest improvement among the Instagram users came from the 18 to 24-year-olds. As digital fatigue becomes a growing concern, this large study highlights the effects of social media on our psychological health. 

According to research, almost 25% of teens view social media as a negative effect. Additionally, between 2012 and 2015, depression in boys increased by 21% and by a whopping 50% in girls. By 2015, 92% of teens and young adults owned a smartphone. So, as you can see, as the use of smartphones increases, so does the feeling of depression across the age group. And with the users only going to increase with time, this problem is about to get worse. 

More people have recently started avoiding social media altogether in exchange for mental peace. By stepping away from the curated lives of others, people are finding more time for genuine connection and a much-needed break from the constant noise of the newsfeed.  

In a recently uploaded clip talking about the same by ABC News, people came forward with their take on the situation. "Getting rid of my Facebook and Instagram accounts was the best thing I’ve ever done," @Hg123-r4m wrote. Meanwhile, @VictorNoriegaGarcia also chimed in. "The worst thing about social media is that people are in it for hours and they don't even realize it," she commented. At the same time, @mark31995 suggested, "I wish social media wasn’t invented ….. screen addiction is out of control…."

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