No Sense: Why Digital Detox Does Not Help with Anxiety and Depression 0 14

Abandoning social media and messengers will not rid a person of anxiety or boost their self-esteem — the benefits are no greater than that of a placebo.

Digital detox — a temporary refusal of social media and gadgets — is "advertised" as a panacea for mental health problems. Low self-esteem, anxiety, procrastination, depression — the answer is the same: put your phone aside.

However, scientists do not agree with this framing of the question: Laura Lemahieu, a researcher in communication studies at the University of Antwerp, completely refuted the real benefits of quitting the Internet in her recent work.

After conducting a thorough analysis of ten major studies on the impact of social media on psychological health, Laura and her colleagues identified a very clear pattern: none of the studies allowed for conclusions about the benefits of "digital abstinence."

In other words, it did not get better in makeshift isolation. Interestingly, it did not get worse either: in most cases, the psychological state and stability of the study participants did not change, remaining at the same level as before the detox.

"Gadgets and social media are rarely the root cause of psychological problems," said psychologist Natalia Shegren. "Digital detox is more like fighting the symptoms rather than the cause. Excessive use of social media is usually a symptom or a way to cope with other issues: loneliness, boredom, low self-esteem, or chronic stress."

The expert added that a sudden ban creates a psychological "yo-yo" effect, which exacerbates the situation.

"The habit temporarily goes away, but as soon as the ban is lifted, a person dives back into the old rhythm," explains Shegren. "This often causes even greater frustration and feelings of guilt for one’s 'weakness.'"

The psychologist noted that the "benefit" of detox may lie in self-suggestion: convincing oneself that one is consciously approaching their psychological health and doing "something useful" can indeed lead to feeling better.

"We must not forget about the potential negative consequences," adds Shegren. "Abandoning social media can sometimes mean real isolation from society. A study conducted in Oxford found that researchers who temporarily gave up gadgets did not start communicating more in personal conversations; on the contrary, they interacted less. Therefore, it is not advisable to thoughtlessly follow advice from the Internet.