We’ve all experienced the negative effects of social media at some point in time and we have either all taken a break or have had our friends and family take social media breaks for a time. We know that taking a break can help reduce our stress levels. Research is limited, however, has revealed that a little break from social media can relieve physiological symptoms of stress, at least in the short term (Robinson and Smith, 2019).

In 2013, Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project found that 61% of Facebook users took a “break”, voluntarily quitting the site for at least several weeks and 20% of individuals reported having used Facebook and deleting it at the time of the survey. Hanley (2019) investigated the effects of taking a social media break on stress and wellbeing. Results showed those who took a break had lower levels of salivary cortisol (a marker of stress) after five days of being off social media. However, individuals who took a break reported lower levels of well-being and life satisfaction. Another study revealed conflicting results with participants reporting increased wellbeing for one to two weeks after taking a break (Sooyeol and colleagues, 2018). These findings highlight the “love-hate” relationship we all struggle with at times, leading us to hop on and off platforms. 

We have all had moments of frustration when we see a particular post or photo causing us to question leaving social media. However, we have other times we are posting selfies and liking every post we see. The task of engaging online can be taxing, it may cause us to waste time, compare ourselves to others, lower one’s self-esteem, and can cause information overload. 

While there is a way to go with regards to the research that exists around wellbeing and social media, the current evidence supports that a self-elected break from social media is beneficial to mental and physical health due to the stressful impact social media can have at times due to social comparison and other negative feelings that may impact wellbeing. 

Whether you decide to take a break or not, if you feel like social media is negatively impacting your mental health, click here for support. If you do take a break, tell us how it goes!