A week-long break from social media can significantly reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety, according to a study from the University of Bath. The research, led by lecturer Jeffrey Lambert, found that participants randomly selected to take a hiatus from platforms like Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok reported improved overall wellbeing.
Lambert noted that the break gave many users a chance to reflect on their social media habits. “Were they using it mindlessly, just scrolling? Or were they using it for a positive purpose, to connect meaningfully with friends or family?” he said. Some participants continued their break for longer periods or set rules for future use, such as deleting apps from their phones or avoiding social media in the morning.
Mehret Biruk, a writer who promotes spending less time online, found herself drawn back into Instagram after a three-year break. “That’s the scary part to me. It was just instantly back to scrolling, and waiting for the likes and comments,” she said. Similarly, public relations executive Korkor Kanor deleted Snapchat and left Twitter and Instagram for nine months, realising the endless scrolling “took a lot of energy” and drained her emotionally.
Kanor noticed improvements during her break. “I had more energy and I was able to hold conversations with people, and not be distracted. I was way more balanced emotionally,” she said. She now uses social media with restrictions, including limiting who can see her posts and scheduling regular breaks.
Celebrities such as Tom Holland, Lizzo and Selena Gomez have also publicly taken breaks from social media, citing mental health concerns. Holland said he found the platforms “overstimulating and overwhelming” and that reading about himself online was “very detrimental to my mental health.”
