Want to boost your mental health? Then take a break from Facebook and Twitter for a week
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Spending too much time on Facebook and Twitter causes depression and social media detoxing could improve your outlook on life, according to research
A study shows regular use of social networking sites may affect your emotional well-being.
But you don't have to quit them altogether - simply changing your behavior and taking an occasional break could be enough to lift your spirits.
The findings published in Cyberpsychology, Behaviour, and Social Networking are based on an experiment in which almost 1,100 participants were assessed and then randomly assigned to one of two conditions.
These were to continue using Facebook as usual or stop for a week - with the latter boosting mental health.
Before and after the study, both groups were asked to evaluate different aspects of their lives, including mood, ability to concentrate, level of worry, and level of satisfaction with their social life.
The group which took a break from social media enjoyed more social activities and an improvement in life satisfaction. It also made them more productive - with the control group reporting a much lower ability to concentrate.
(Photo: Getty)
Dr Morten Tromholt, of Copenhagen University, said: "The total number of Facebook users grows each day.
"According to Facebook's own data, the social network had 1.59 billion active users in December 20151 and according to Statistics Denmark, two out of three three Danish Internet users had an account on Facebook in 2015.
"In other words, Facebook is the most widespread social network of our time. The users of Facebook report using the social network to keep in touch with friends, share good things, and to gain information about others.
"Thinking of all the social and practical functions that Facebook supports, one is likely to believe that our daily use of Facebook affects our lives in one way or another."
The gains varied depending on the amount of time they previously spent on Facebook and whether or not they were passive users and tended to envy others on the site.
Dr Tromholt said: "Millions of hours are spent on Facebook each day. We are surely better connected now than ever before, but is this new connectedness doing any good to our well-being? According to the present study, the answer is no.
"In fact, the predominant uses of Facebook, that is, as a means to communicate, gain information about others, and as habitual pastime, are affecting our well-being negatively on several dimensions."
He said the study provides evidence quitting Facebook leads to higher levels of both cognitive and affective well-being.
(Photo: Getty)
The participants who took a week's break from Facebook reported significantly higher levels of life satisfaction and a significantly improved emotional life.
The study also showed the gain of well-being varied in relation to how people use Facebook - with it greatest for heavy and passive users and those who tend to envy others users.
Dr Tromholt said: "These findings indicate it might not be necessary to quit Facebook for good to increase one's well-being. Instead an adjustment of one's behaviour on Facebook could potentially cause a change.
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"To make things clear, if one is a heavy Facebook user, one should use Facebook less to increase one's well-being.
"And if one tends to feel envy when on Facebook, one should avoid browsing the sections (or specific friends) on Facebook causing this envy.
"And if one uses Facebook passively, one should reduce this kind of behaviour."
He said if it's difficult to change one's way of using Facebook one should consider quitting for good.
Dr Brenda Wiederhold, editor of the journal, said: "Confirming previous research this study found 'lurking' on Facebook may cause negative emotions.
"However, on the bright side, as previous studies have shown, actively connecting with close friends, whether in real life or on Facebook, may actually increase one's sense of well-being."