Title: Social Media and Mental Health: Time for a Digital Detox? | Psychology Today
Headings: Social Media and Mental Health: Time for a Digital Detox?
Rob Whitley, Ph.D.
Social Media and Mental Health: Time for a Digital Detox?
Why social media is bad for mental health, and what can be done to reduce usage.
What Is the Impact of Such Usage on Mental Health?
The Passive Use of Social Media
The Active Use of Social Media
Social Media and Physical Health
Social Media and Social Activity
Steps to Taking a Digital Detox

Content: Indeed, disturbed sleep has been consistently associated with poorer mental health. Similarly, heavy social media users can spend large amounts of time staring at a small screen, which can contribute towards headaches, migraines, and problems with vision. Such habits can also inhibit exercise and outdoor activity in nature, which has been linked to good mental health. Social Media and Social Activity
To be sure, social media can allow users to connect with people of similar interests and mindsets, contributing to increasing social networks. In talking about social media, it is not all doom and gloom, and usage in moderation can sometimes foster social connections and social capital. That said, heavy users of social media and digital devices may be forgoing actual face-to-face social interactions to indulge their social media habits. For example, one recent report indicates that the average user of online dating apps is spending around 90 minutes per day on the app. Perhaps this time would be better spent actually socializing with people in real life? Indeed, considerable research indicates that rewarding in-person face-to-face social activity is a hedge against depression, anxiety, and other mental health outcomes. Real-world socializing may be better for mental health than online social media activity.