The link between the two has been talked about for years, but a causal relationship has never been proven. For the first time, research based on experimental data links Facebook, Snapchat and Instagram use to reduce well-being. Few previous studies have attempted to show that the use of social media is detrimental to the well-being of users and to those who have either placed participants in unrealistic situations or are limited in scope, asking them to completely opt out of Facebook.
The researchers wanted a much more extensive, more rigorous study that also did more ecological justice. To do this, the research team designed an experiment to include the three most popular platforms among a cohort of students, then collected objective usage data that was automatically tracked by iPhones for active apps, not those running in the background.
Each of the 143 participants completed a survey to determine mood and well-being at the start of the study, plus shared shots of their iPhone battery screens to provide the basic media social data for a week. Participants were then randomly assigned to a control group, which ensured users maintain their typical social media behavior, or an experimental group that limited time on Facebook, Snapchat, and Instagram to 10 minutes per platform per day.
Over the next three weeks, participants exchanged screenshots of their iPhone battery to give the researchers a weekly overview for each individual. With that data in hand, the researchers then looked at seven outcome measures, including fear of missing out, anxiety, depression and loneliness.
The researcher emphasizes that the findings do not suggest that 18- to 22-year-olds should stop using social media altogether. However, the study shows that limiting screen time on these apps can't hurt.
