36,000 people quit Facebook for six weeks: Researchers reveal how deeply their lives were affected

There have been moments in all our lives where we have deleted social media apps like Facebook or Instagram with the aim of a temporary social detox or permanent riddance. However, what mostly ends up happening is either one gets diverted to another app or picks up a new addictive hobby.

But is it just you or does leaving social media apps really affect your life? Is it a temporary myth, or might leaving it be as relieving as forgetting that one true love? Well, researchers seem to have found out.

Facebook: A love-hate relationship

It's been established long ago that the small boosts of serotonin people get while using social media apps and being on the internet are not beneficial for their long-term health. The tiff between perceiving social media as a bane or a boon went so deep in Australia that the country banned its use for people under 16. This led to an influx of teenagers venturing outside their homes and into nature.

But what happens to adults who quit social media? To find an answer to this query, researchers asked 36,000 people to quit Facebook and Instagram in the six weeks before the US presidential elections. At a time when debates, anticipation, and aggression were going to be at an all-time high, researchers at Stanford University asked participants who spent 15 or more minutes online to either deactivate their accounts for six weeks or log off for a week.

The shocking effect of switching off social media

The 27% of participants who stayed off for longer were significantly better than those in the control group. Their emotional well-being was found to be much improved.

There was a slightly smaller benefit for those who stayed off Instagram with women between the ages of 18 and 24 experiencing the biggest benefits. However, those above the age of 35 saw the maximum benefits from quitting Facebook.

While this was positive, it was also noticed that people were redirected to another app, suggesting that the boost in mood might come from a change in platforms rather than just reduced screen time.

Social media against the world?

In March, jurors found that Meta, the parent company of Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp, and Google, the owner of YouTube had intentionally built an addictive platform that harmed a 20-year-old's mental health. The woman was subsequently offered $6M. However, as more and more people discover the true effects of 'doomscrolling,' many more trials are expected to follow.

As per Meta and Google, who both plan to dispute the recent trial, teen mental health is more "profoundly complex and cannot be linked to a single app." "We will continue to defend ourselves vigorously as every case is different, and we remain confident in our record of protecting teens online."

In recent years, the fatal effects of social media use have come into the limelight. As per a 2020 review, use of social networking sites is associated with an increased risk of depression, anxiety and psychological distress. Moreover, in the United States, the 12-month prevalence of major depressive episodes among adolescents increased from 8.7% in 2005 to 11.3% in 2014. The new media screen activities have been suggested as one of the causes of the increase in adolescent depression and suicide.

Thus, quitting social media or substituting those apps for more beneficial ones might improve not only your health but also your life.