
Cutting social media use to 30 minutes per day found to significantly reduce anxiety and loneliness
Scientists have found that students who cut social media use to 30 minutes per day can see significant reduction in anxiety, depression, and loneliness, an advance that can lead to better mental health interventions. A growing body of research in recent years has shown that an increase in social media use among young people is linked to their declining mental health. Researchers at Iowa State University assessed this link further in a two-week experiment with 230 college students. Half of the participants were asked to limit their social media usage to 30 minutes a day, and received automated, daily reminders. The study, published in the journal Technology, Mind, and Behavior, found that this group of participants scored significantly lower for anxiety, depression, loneliness and fear of missing out at the end of the experiment compared to the control group. These participants also appeared to have a brighter outlook on life, scoring higher for “positive affect,” which the researchers describe as “the tendency to experience positive emotions described with words such as ‘excited’ and ‘proud.’” “It surprised me to find that participants’ well-being did not only improve in one dimension but in all of them. I was excited to learn that such a simple intervention of sending a daily reminder can motivate people to change their behavior and improve their social media habits,” study co-author Ella Faulhaber said. The psychological benefits from cutting back on social media was found to extend even to participants who sometimes exceeded the 30-minute time limit. Scientists suggest it is not about being perfect, but putting in the effort that makes the difference. While previous research has assessed the effects of limiting or abstaining from social media, many of the interventions recommended in these studies require heavy supervision and deleting apps or using special applications to block or limit social media use. “When a perceived freedom is taken away, we start resisting,” says Douglas A. Gentile, another author of the study, who adds that eliminating social media completely may take away some of its benefits like connecting with friends and family. For those looking to cut back on social media use, scientists recommend setting a timer to see how much time one spends on social media. “Recognize that it’s not easy to stick to a time limit. Social media apps are designed to keep you engaged,” researchers said in a statement. However, they urge people not to give up as limiting social media use over time has real benefits for daily life. “We live in an age of anxiety. Lots of indicators show that anxiety, depression, loneliness are all getting worse, and that can make us feel helpless. But there are things we can do to manage our mental health and well-being,” Dr Gentile said. Read More TikTok allowed millions of people to see Canadian ‘helicopter’ wildfire conspiracies Reddit hit by outage as fight over its future escalates Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp all stop working Is your WhatsApp group making you anxious? Don’t worry – you’re not alone From a post-truth world to a post-trust world Why suicides among young women are rising at the fastest rate ever
2023-06-19 14:17

Adin Ross claims IShowSpeed made Cristiano Ronaldo 'more famous', baffled fans say ‘random talentless people say rubbish’
Adin Ross has embroiled himself in controversy after he claimed that 'Speed has made Ronaldo more famous'
2023-06-19 13:51

Has Logan Paul renewed contract with WWE? Fans say 'you gotta be trolling us'
A user wrote, 'It wasn’t photoshopped Logan, that was obviously AI'
2023-06-19 13:19

German Greens Are in Crisis Like the Rest of Scholz’s Coalition
Germany’s Greens attacked their highest-ranking cabinet ministers at a party convention near Frankfurt this weekend. Nominally, the subject
2023-06-19 12:52

The Best Cleaning Sweeper, Roborock S7 Max Ultra Launched
ROME--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jun 19, 2023--
2023-06-19 12:48

What to stream this week: 'And Just Like That' back, Kelly Clarkson sings, Robert Downey Jr. drives
This week’s new entertainment releases include albums from Kelly Clarkson and Portugal
2023-06-19 12:21

Coal Trains Bound for Giant Australia Port Halted by Protester
A total of 19 trains carrying coal to Australia’s flagship export hub for the fuel were disrupted after
2023-06-19 11:27

Is Kris Jenner mad at Kourtney Kardashian? Internet slams ‘sh**ty mom’ as she posts ‘bare minimum’ on daughter’s pregnancy
The internet slammed Kris Jenner as she only posted a story with a two-line caption congratulating Kourtney Kardashian on her pregnancy
2023-06-19 10:55

Top Stock Picker Scouts AI Fringes to Beat 97% of Peers
When it comes to trading the artificial intelligence frenzy, one top-performing global equity fund is winning big by
2023-06-19 09:48

JLR taps Everstream Analytics' AI to dodge supply chain problems
By Nick Carey LONDON JLR said on Monday it has partnered with supply chain mapping and risk analytics
2023-06-19 07:17

TikTok allowed millions of people to see Canadian ‘helicopter’ wildfire conspiracies before taking down videos
More than 400 wildfires are raging across Canada, and misinformation about the blazes is spreading as well, particularly on TikTok. As Media Matters for America (MMFA) noted in a recent analysis, videos on TikTok claiming the fires were started intentionally by helicopters, arsonists, and “directed energy weapons” have garnered millions of views this month, with the false ideas in these videos then spreading to other social media platforms. Only a few of the most viral false videos have been taken down, the analysis notes. Further scrutiny of such claims provides easy evidence to the contrary, with Canadian officials attributing the fires to a combination of lightning strikes, human accidents, and dry, climate crisis-fueled conditions across the country. “We are already seeing one of the worst wildfire seasons on record,” Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, said in a statement earlier this month. “We must prepare for a long summer.” Other videos about the fires featured clips from a controlled burn by fire officials, as well as what was actually a 2015 wildfire, MMFA found. The Independent has contacted TikTok for comment. Tens of thousands of people have been evacuated from their homes including large numbers in Quebec, Alberta and British Columbia. Hundreds of firefighters have arrived from countries like Australia, New Zealand, the US, South Africa, Chile, Costa Rica and France to assist the exhausted Canadian crews. As The Independent has previously reported, misinformation spreads quickly on TikTok during ongoing disasters, thanks in part to public distrust of government officials and an increasingly anti-science bent in US politics. “Social media can be helpful. It alerts people to a situation. It’s a way for widespread dissemination,” Dr Erin Haynes, professor of preventive medicine and environmental health at the University of Kentucky told The Independent in March in the wake of the Ohio train derailment disaster. “But because of that it allows widespread dissemination of false information, so it can go both ways. You have to be very cautious when using social media. Fact-check, find the source of that information.” Read More Canadian wildfire smoke gives Minnesota city the worst air in the US Satellites capture Canadian wildfire smoke pouring into US Midwest Wildfire smoke from Canada might be a problem ‘all summer’
2023-06-19 06:54

Ancient Amazon Charcoal Seen as Next Big Thing in Carbon Markets
A type of charcoal first used by Amazonian tribes thousands of years ago is becoming a key component
2023-06-19 05:52