Social networks are a double-edged sword. They help us feel more connected, feel a little closer to people far away, and even make friends with people from other countries. On the other hand, they can also trigger addiction, create enormous social pressure and be a springboard for eating disorders. The great visibility they generate makes many people want to leave them, which is very common with celebrities, for example. The last to announce their (possibly temporary) separation was actress and singer Selena Gómez. However, according to a study from the University of Durham (England) published this Wednesday in the journal PLoS, this digital detox may not be as beneficial for personal well-being as previously thought.
More information
The researchers found that the subjects who took part in the study had fewer negative emotions and boredom after a week of abstinence, but their life satisfaction also decreased. Social networks offer powerful social rewards, so limiting them “may lead to some reduction in positive emotions,” says Niklas Ihssen, one of the authors. The same thing happens in reverse, namely by reducing negative feelings by limiting exposure to harmful experiences such as social comparison, FOMO (fear of missing out), or even bullying and harassment.
To conduct the study, they used a sample of 51 Durham University students between the ages of 18 and 25 who were required to stop using social media for a week. Their mood was assessed three days before the start and four days after the end of this abstinence period. In addition, during the days of separation, they had to complete four daily questionnaires with questions about boredom, loneliness, social media cravings, and positive and negative emotions. Before the end of this week, 86% had relapsed and accessed their social media at least once.
After the study period, the authors concluded that there was no evidence that stopping the use of social networks caused withdrawal symptoms in drug addicts. This absence of the monkey is not of great importance to Marian García, director of Orbium, a therapy center specializing in addictions. The psychologist points out that the people in the sample did not have addiction problems and even if they did, “a week is a very short time.” Addicts’ moods do not deteriorate once they stop using.” Furthermore, knowing the exact duration of the restrictions they would be subject to would have influenced their behavior.
Remedios Zafra, a researcher at CSIC’s Institute of Philosophy (IFS), believes the findings can be valuable in addressing breakup strategies. Before the restrictions began, these people used social networks on average between three and four hours a day. After this week, they shortened this time to half an hour: “You can significantly reduce your consumption without any negative effects,” emphasizes Ihssen, one of the authors.
García reiterates that it is premature to talk about an effective reduction in consumption, pointing out that the minimum period to see results should be about three months. The psychologist also emphasizes that longer follow-up is necessary to ensure maintenance. Generally, they initially manage to reduce the habit, but over time they can gradually resume it, he points out.
Another question the researchers examined was how the volunteers invested the time they no longer devoted to social networks. The two most common jobs were video gaming and online shopping. For the director of Orbium, this is clearly “substitution” behavior. This way, users could get the same dopamine produced by these media with something different.
We must not forget that the company Meta, owner of Instagram and Facebook, is facing a class action lawsuit in the United States accusing it of knowingly promoting the addictive and compulsive use of social networks among children and young people. “The addictive potential of current technologies is enormous and therefore the issue of switching off is crucial for people,” emphasizes Zafra from the IFS-CSIC.
The author believes that the introduction of new technologies has raised concerns about their impact on people’s well-being and that certain behaviors should not be overly pathologized. Covadonga González-Nuevo, professor of psychology at the University of Burgos and member of the Spanish Society of Clinical Psychology of Children and Adolescents, says that although social networks are linked to problems such as anxiety, depression and body dissatisfaction, abusive use does not have to be be associated with poor mental health. “On social networks, all types of usage coexist, and it is advisable to minimize the negative ones.”
The researcher insists that the results of his research suggest that social networks “should not be viewed as addictive in the sense of withdrawal symptoms and food cravings.” Ihssen defines it as something that can produce both positive and negative experiences and that must be consumed responsibly, leaving the action in the hands of the user.
You can follow EL PAÍS Health and well-being on Facebook, X and Instagram.