Are Instagram And Facebook Behind Your Anxiety? Here’s The Truth

Do you feel that your mood suddenly changes when scrolling reels on Instagram? The world of social media can take you to fairy land immediately ending your boredom from your daily mundane life. But this does not come free. You might be paying the cost for this from your mental health. A new study by Stanford University found that taking a break from Instagram and Facebook can reduce anxiety and improve happiness. This research was conducted with more than 35,000 participants, that showed how people temporarily deactivated their accounts for up to six weeks and were found with better emotional health. Here’s The Finding Of The StudyThe study involved over 35,000 participants that were paid to deactivate their Instagram and Facebook accounts temporarily.

Researchers asked the participants to take a break from their social media accounts for a period of up to one to six weeks. This experiment helped the research to note how people actually felt with and without Facebook and Instagram in their life.Participants were found to be feeling less depressed and anxious after they took a break from their social media apps. Notably, several of them said that they felt happier. Although the changes were not huge, they can prove to be meaningful in a technology-driven world. In simple words, a small break from social media can create a real impact in our daily lives. It is noteworthy that among the overall participants, Facebook users above the age of 35 felt the biggest improvements. While women under 25 using Instagram witnessed the most positive changes after their social media break. How To Reduce Use Social Media UseReducing your social media consumption sounds easier than it may be for a lot of people. More importantly, it does not have to be drastic. You can simply start by setting limits, like reducing daily usage timing and avoid apps before you go to sleep. Moreover, you can also turn off notifications to reduce the urge to check your phone constantly.

Another major step is to get back to physical activities, rather than scrolling. Activities like exercising, reading and spending more time with family can help you reduce your social media consumption, eventually helping your mood and overall mental health.