Paper Number
1231
Paper Type
Complete Research Paper
Abstract
In an era where social media ubiquity persists, concerns over its impact on mental health have escalated. This preliminary study investigates the effects of a one-hour daily social media hiatus on the mental wellbeing of 60 college students over two weeks. Unlike common interventions demanding prolonged abstinence, this research explores a more feasible, short-term avoidance approach. The experimental design, including treatment and control groups, illuminates the potential mental health benefits of brief, yet regular, digital disengagements. Preliminary results suggest that even minimal breaks from social media can yield significant improvements in users' mental health. Interestingly, these benefits come not from long-term changes in behaviour, but in changes to perception and resulting attitude related to social media usage. These findings contribute to the foundational groundwork for data-backed strategies, feasible strategies to mitigate social media's adverse effects. This study contributes to the nuanced discourse on balancing connectivity with mental health preservation.
Recommended Citation
LaHue, Austin; Gaskin, James; and Daniel, Kennedy, "Intermittent Digital Fasting: The Mental Health Benefits of a One-Hour Daily Social Media Hiatus" (2024). ECIS 2024 Proceedings. 10.
https://aisel.aisnet.org/ecis2024/track09_coghbis/track09_coghbis/10
Intermittent Digital Fasting: The Mental Health Benefits of a One-Hour Daily Social Media Hiatus
In an era where social media ubiquity persists, concerns over its impact on mental health have escalated. This preliminary study investigates the effects of a one-hour daily social media hiatus on the mental wellbeing of 60 college students over two weeks. Unlike common interventions demanding prolonged abstinence, this research explores a more feasible, short-term avoidance approach. The experimental design, including treatment and control groups, illuminates the potential mental health benefits of brief, yet regular, digital disengagements. Preliminary results suggest that even minimal breaks from social media can yield significant improvements in users' mental health. Interestingly, these benefits come not from long-term changes in behaviour, but in changes to perception and resulting attitude related to social media usage. These findings contribute to the foundational groundwork for data-backed strategies, feasible strategies to mitigate social media's adverse effects. This study contributes to the nuanced discourse on balancing connectivity with mental health preservation.
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