Will a social media break help your mental health?
People never regret taking social media breaks. Celebrities including American singer-songwriter Billie Eilish have spoken about the mental health benefits that go hand-in-hand with leaving social media for a spell.
So what are the signs that it’s time to log off for a while – and what are the benefits of doing so?
Should people take a social media break?
“Stepping away from devices is important for us all, but particularly for young people – as young brains are still developing, exposure to so much content on social media can be harmful and damage their future wellbeing,” says Fiona Yassin, of The Wave Clinic.
“In addition to the mental health risks of social media, we are all (but again, young people especially) at risk from the negative aspects of the internet, such as cyberbullying, trolling and the dark web.”
What are the signs that it’s time to log off for a while?
It’s important to be selfreflective and honest about how social media is making you feel. There are many signs that it might be time to take a break.
“These include, finding you often get annoyed or frustrated with people’s content, comparing yourself to others to the detriment of your health, reaching for your phone first thing in the morning and last thing at night, scrolling social media when you’re with other people, getting into arguments with people online, feeling deflated when you don’t receive the engagement you want on a post, and noticing social media is impacting your work,” Yassin says.
Many young adults and teenagers can feel huge amounts of anxiety due to social media. They may feel pressured to continually post perfect photos and write idealised posts to go alongside them.
“The unspoken rules of social media can be challenging to keep up with, and teenagers can experience high levels of anxiety as a result,” she adds.
“Signs that your child or young person is struggling with social media include withdrawal and isolating from friends and family, being upset, disturbed sleep, major distress when you take social media away, significant mood changes, using self-insulting comments and comparing themselves to others.”
What are the benefits?
Studies have shown that limiting social media use can improve wellbeing by preventing sleep problems.
“Many people who use social media experience a fear of missing out, which can drive social media use at night and cause sleep disturbances,” says Yassin.
“Stepping away from social media can help to reduce anxiety no matter what your age.”
“Breaking from social media and instead investing time connecting with friends, family and colleagues in real life, can help to reduce feelings of loneliness.
“Researchhasshownthat reducing social media use, even by just 15 minutes a day, can significantly improve general health and immune function.”