One-week social media detox may boost mental health in young adults

A national cohort study found that a one-week social media detox among young adults (aged 18-24) was associated with significant reductions in symptoms of depression (24.8%), anxiety (16.1%), and insomnia (14.5%), though loneliness remained unchanged. The intervention used objective monitoring of social media use and mental health symptoms, addressing limitations of previous research. The durability of these effects and their applicability to more diverse populations require further investigation.

Clinical takeaway: Short-term social media reduction may offer meaningful improvements in depression, anxiety, and insomnia for young adults, but consider individual context and the need for longer-term data.

Source:

Calvert E, et al. (2025, November 3). JAMA Netw Open. Social Media Detox and Youth Mental Health. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41284297/