35,000 People Were Paid to Quit Social Media – Here’s Why

From Facebook and Instagram to Snapchat and TikTok, it seems like a new wildly popular social media platform pops up every couple of years, ready to snare teens and adults alike in its addictive trap. Amid rising concerns about the effects of social platforms, Stanford University researchers recently revealed the results of what they described as the “largest-ever experimental study on the effect of social media deactivation on users’ emotional state.”

Quitting Social Media – A Study

In a study conducted by Stanford University, more than 35,000 participants were paid to deactivate Instagram or Facebook for a specific period of time. Researchers found those who underwent the digital detox experienced lower anxiety and depression levels, as well as a boost in overall happiness. The study revealed that taking a break from social media – even if it’s short – can have a positive impact on an individual’s emotional state.

During the study, researchers asked participants to abstain from social media use for randomly assigned lengths of time, with some required to take a break for one week, while others were asked to quit for six weeks. The results varied, depending on platform and the participant’s age: Facebook users saw the clearest improvements among those over 35, and Instagram users observed the greatest benefits in women younger than 25.

Participants who quit Facebook experienced more improvement in happiness, anxiety, and depression than those who stopped using Instragram, but everyone who detoxed to some extent reported better outcomes than those who remained active on the platforms. Notably, those in the study reported improvements in emotional well-being even when they just shifted their attention to other apps rather than reducing overall screen time. The study’s authors acknowledged that the experiment faced several limitations, including individual-level deactivation and self-reported outcomes.

Social Media Dangers

For years, experts have been sounding the alarm on the link between mental health concerns and social media use, with many identifying a “a rise in sleeplessness, loneliness, worry, and dependence among teenagers … that coincides with the release of the first iPhone 10 years ago,” according to the Harvard Graduate School of Education. At least one study discovered nearly half of teens who use an electronic device for five hours each day “have at least one suicide risk factor.”

“[E]xcessive social media use is associated with behaviors, such as poor sleep, increased social comparisons, impact on learning, and exposure to cyberbullying and negative content, that could contribute to the worsening of depressive symptoms,” explained Dr. Carol Vidal, child and adolescent psychiatrist at Johns Hopkins Children’s Center.

Using Social Media Safely

While it can be problematic, social media is also a great way to connect with friends and family around the world – as long as it’s done safely. Experts recommend taking the following precautions when using social media:

• Choose the highest privacy settings.
• Enable two-factor authentication.
• Turn off location features.
• Select a strong password.
• Do not accept friend requests from strangers.
• Avoid scams by refusing to click on unfamiliar links or engage with unsolicited messages.
• Understand that many criminals prey on youths, so refrain from sharing detailed personal information.

Perhaps most importantly, it is critical to remember that digital footprints are exceedingly difficult to erase – so always think twice before posting.

1. Reducing social media usage positively impacts emotional well-being, a Stanford study of 35,000 participants found.
2. The study revealed that even limited digital detoxes can have positive effects.
3. To use social media safely, choose the highest privacy settings, reject friend requests from strangers, and choose not to engage with unfamiliar links or messages.