According to researchers at Iowa State University, a simple intervention could improve the mental health of young people who use social media. In a two-week experiment involving 230 college students, half were asked to limit their social media usage to 30 minutes a day while receiving daily reminders. The results were promising; those who followed the intervention scored significantly lower in anxiety, depression, loneliness, and fear of missing out. Additionally, they experienced a more positive outlook on life. The lead author of the paper, Ella Faulhaber, says that the daily reminders motivated participants to improve their social media habits. The researchers found that cutting back on social media had psychological benefits that extended beyond the intervention period.
