Digital Cleanse: Exploring the Effects of Limiting Social Media on Wellbeing

Abstract

Background: There has been a lot of interest in whether social media (SM) impacts the wellbeing of young people. Literature suggests that passive SM, characterised by ‘scrolling’, may be responsible for negative changes in wellbeing. Much of the SM research is cross-sectional, and causality has not been clearly established. Aims: To explore how limiting passive SM may impact wellbeing in several domains of health, in a sample of young New Zealanders. Methods: Using a randomized waitlist-controlled trial, participants were allocated to either immediately begin a ‘Digital Cleanse’ (DC) or a waitlist (WL). The DC group were asked to limit passive SM to 15 minutes per day for two weeks. In the WL condition, participants continued to use SM as usual for two weeks before beginning their ‘Digital Cleanse’. Wellbeing measures were guided by a holistic Te Whare Tapa Whā model at Time 1 (before randomisation; both groups), at Time 2 (two weeks post-randomisation; both groups) and at Time 3 (after the WL group completed their intervention). Qualitative interviews were conducted with a subsample of participants to explore their experience of the intervention. Results: 38 participants began and completed the study (19 in DC and 19 in WL). They were primarily female tertiary students. DC participants showed greater improvement in mental and spiritual wellbeing after the initial two weeks than the WL group (mean change in mental wellbeing in DC = 3.98, WL = .36; p < .001; mean change in spiritual wellbeing in DC = 3.23, WL = -.37; p < .001). Per protocol analysis confirmed the primary results and revealed that Fear of Missing Out (FoMO) reached statistical significance (mean change in DC = -3.13, WL = -.32; p = .043). Within-group analysis revealed that all but one outcome measure (loneliness in DC group) improved when participants limited passive SM, regardless of initial group allocation. Interviews (n=9) found that limiting SM led to increased productivity, a realisation that SM was a tool for relieving boredom, and that SM has an addictive quality. Discussion: A brief intervention limiting passive SM use may improve wellbeing in several areas. We add to research by using experimental design and measuring wellbeing holistically. The size of the study limits generalisability. Replication using a larger and more diverse sample is needed.