Social media users urged to have ‘scroll-free’ month

SOCIAL media users are being urged to stop scrolling through sites for a month as part of a new campaign.

The Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) is calling on people to stop using platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Snapchat in September, or to cut down the amount of time they spend on them.

The Scroll-Free September campaign comes amid growing concern about the impact of social media on mental health.

It follows the establishment of health awareness months such as Dry January, when people cut back on alcohol, and Stoptober, when smokers are encouraged to quit.

Two-thirds of users (65%) would consider taking part in the initiative and many believe giving up social media would have a positive impact on their lives, an RSPH survey found.

Shirley Cramer, chief executive of RSPH, said Scroll-Free September offers the opportunity “to take back control of our relationship with social media”.

She said: “The aim is that by the end of the month, we will be able to reflect back on what we missed, what we didn’t, and what we got to enjoy instead of scrolling through our news feeds.

“That knowledge could help us build a healthier, more balanced relationship with social media.”

The campaign runs from September 1 until September 30.

Participants can continue using instant messaging platforms and social media for work.