2-week digital detox may reverse 10 years of cognitive decline, study finds
On average, Americans spend around four to five hours on their phones daily, often checking their devices immediately after waking up and before going to sleep
Excessive social media use is drawing increasing scrutiny, as new research suggests that even short breaks from smartphones can significantly improve mental health and cognitive function, according to a report by The Independent.
On average, Americans spend around four to five hours on their phones daily, often checking their devices immediately after waking up and before going to sleep. This growing dependence has raised concerns among researchers and policymakers alike.
Recent legal developments have also highlighted the issue. In California, a jury ordered tech companies Meta and YouTube to pay $6 million in damages to a young woman after hearing how she developed an addiction to their platforms. In a separate case in New Mexico, another jury found Meta harmful to children's mental health and imposed $375 million in damages for violating consumer protection laws. The companies have appealed the rulings, but the cases reflect a broader shift in how social media's impact is being perceived.
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Alongside these legal challenges, scientific studies are pointing to measurable benefits of reducing screen time. A study published last year found that a simple digital detox could reverse the equivalent of 10 years of age-related cognitive decline while also improving mental health among participants.
The research, published in PNAS Nexus, involved 467 participants who blocked internet access on their phones for two weeks using an app. They were still able to make calls, send text messages, and access the internet through other devices such as laptops and tablets. Researchers noted that smartphone use tends to be more compulsive and disruptive than computer use, often interfering with everyday social activities.
During the study, participants reduced their average daily online time from 314 minutes to 161 minutes. By the end of the two-week period, they reported noticeable improvements in mood, sustained attention, and overall mental wellbeing. The researchers stated that the improvement in attention was comparable to reversing a decade of cognitive ageing.
Importantly, even participants who did not fully adhere to the detox showed positive results. One of the study's authors, Kostadin Kushlev of Georgetown University, said that even partial or short-term breaks from digital devices can be beneficial.
Another researcher, Noah Castelo from the University of Alberta, said the study was partly inspired by his own experience of how smartphones can disrupt daily life, including social interactions like spending time with friends.
Additional findings from a separate study by Harvard Medical School further support these conclusions. Published in JAMA Network Open, the research found that reducing smartphone use for just one week led to decreases in anxiety, depression, and insomnia among participants.
However, experts caution that the effects of social media vary from person to person. John Torous, a Harvard psychiatrist involved in the study, noted that identifying individuals who are most vulnerable is key. These include people who engage in negative social comparison, struggle with sleep, or rely on online platforms to cope with loneliness.
Policy responses to these concerns differ across regions. Massachusetts is considering legislation to ban social media use for children under 14, while Indonesia has introduced a similar restriction for those under 16.
Together, the findings suggest that even limited efforts to reduce smartphone use can yield meaningful improvements in mental health and cognitive performance, reinforcing calls for more mindful engagement with digital technology.
