A recent study by York University in the Canadian city of Toronto explored how stepping away from social media for just one week can positively impact mental well-being in young women.
Over the course of the break, participants reported significant improvements in self-esteem and body image, compared to those who continued their usual social media habits . The experiment provides rare causal evidence that even short-term disengagement from online platforms can lead to more positive self-perception and reduced social comparison.
Researchers suggest that the reduced exposure to idealized images and highlight reels often found on social media played a key role in these mental health benefits. By limiting daily interactions with curated content, participants experienced less pressure to conform to unrealistic beauty standards, which in turn enhanced their sense of self-worth and body acceptance.
These results underscore the potential therapeutic value of strategically unplugging—even briefly—from digital environments that frequently promote negative self-comparisons.
Source: Science Direct
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1740144524000378