Summary: Cutting daily social media time by just 15 minutes can lead to notable improvements in general health, immune function, sleep quality, and reductions in depression and loneliness.
Source: Swansea University
New research from Swansea University finds that modest reductions in social media use produce measurable benefits for physical health and psychological wellbeing.
A randomized, controlled study led by Professor Phil Reed, with colleagues Tegan Fowkes and Mariam Khela from Swansea University’s Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, examined whether asking young adults to reduce their social media time by 15 minutes per day would affect their health over a three-month period. The results were published in the Journal of Technology in Behavioral Science.
The trial compared three groups: one that maintained normal smartphone and social media habits (No Change), one that was asked to reduce social media use by 15 minutes daily (Reduce), and one that was asked to reduce social media by 15 minutes and replace that time with another activity (Reduce + Activity). Fifty participants aged 20–25 (33 female, 17 male) completed monthly questionnaires about general health, immune function, sleep, loneliness, anxiety, and depressive symptoms, and reported social media screentime weekly.
Over the study period, the Reduce group showed clear benefits compared with the No Change and Reduce + Activity groups. Participants who were asked to cut social media use reported an average improvement in immune-related health (fewer colds, flu episodes, and skin wart problems), markedly better sleep quality, and reduced symptoms of depression and loneliness. On average, the Reduce group cut their social media time by more than requested—around 40 minutes daily—while the No Change group increased screentime slightly, and the Reduce + Activity group unexpectedly increased social media use by approximately 25 minutes daily.
These findings strengthen prior correlational evidence by demonstrating an experimentally controlled effect: deliberately reducing social media use appears linked to better physical health and psychological wellbeing. While the study does not definitively determine whether improvements are directly caused by less social media exposure or mediated by changes in mood, activity, or sleep, the randomized design supports a causal interpretation worth further study.
Professor Phil Reed, from Swansea University’s School of Psychology, commented: “These data demonstrate that when people reduce their social media use, their lives can improve in multiple ways—including benefits for their physical health, immune functioning, and psychological wellbeing.” He added that further research should clarify whether the observed health gains result directly from lower social media exposure or indirectly through improved sleep, increased physical activity, or reduced depressive symptoms.
Professor Reed also noted a practical implication for health campaigns: “The lack of benefit in the group instructed to replace social media time with a specific activity suggests that prescribing how people should use their freed-up time may backfire. Providing clear facts about the harms of excessive use and allowing individuals to choose how to reduce their screen time could be a more acceptable and effective approach.”
About this social media and health research news
Author: Press Office
Source: Swansea University
Contact: Press Office – Swansea University
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Original Research: Open access. “Reduction in Social Media Usage Produces Improvements in Physical Health and Wellbeing: An RCT” by Phil Reed et al., Journal of Technology in Behavioral Science.
Abstract
Reduction in Social Media Usage Produces Improvements in Physical Health and Wellbeing: An RCT
Social media use has risen steadily and has been linked in previous studies to negative effects on mental and physical health. This randomized controlled trial investigated whether reducing daily smartphone screentime would improve indicators of health and wellbeing among young adults.
Fifty university students completed validated questionnaires assessing general health, immune function, loneliness, sleep quality, anxiety, and depression. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: continue usual smartphone use (No Change), reduce social media use by 15 minutes per day (Reduce), or reduce social media by 15 minutes and intentionally substitute that time with another activity (Reduce + Activity). After three months, the same measures were repeated.
Compliance was lower than expected in the Reduce + Activity group, and that group did not show the health improvements seen in the Reduce group. In contrast, the Reduce group significantly lowered their screentime and experienced meaningful improvements in general health, immune function, loneliness, sleep, and depressive symptoms compared with the other groups. These outcomes support the idea that limiting social media screentime may be beneficial for both physical health and psychological wellbeing, and they point to the value of straightforward reduction strategies rather than prescriptive substitutions.