Social media has become an integral part of our daily lives. It provides a way for people to connect with one another, keep up with the latest news and events, and share their thoughts and opinions.

While there are undoubtedly benefits to social media use, there are also drawbacks. For example, spending too much time on social media can lead to decreased productivity, increased anxiety and depression, and even social isolation.

However, recent research has found that limiting social media use to just 15 minutes per day can actually increase resilience and happiness.

The study

The study, which was conducted by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania, involved 143 undergraduate students.

The students were divided into two groups: one group was instructed to continue using social media as they normally would, while the other group was instructed to limit their social media use to just 10 minutes per day across three platforms: Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat. The study lasted for three weeks.

At the end of the three-week period, the students were asked to complete a survey that measured their levels of anxiety, depression, social support, and overall well-being.

The researchers found that the group that limited their social media use to just 10 minutes per day showed significant improvements in all four measures compared to the group that continued to use social media as they normally would.

Increased resilience

One of the most interesting findings of the study was that limiting social media use actually increased resilience. Resilience is the ability to bounce back from adversity or stress.

The researchers found that the group that limited their social media use showed greater resilience than the group that continued to use social media as they normally would. This suggests that limiting social media use may be a way to build up resilience and cope with stress more effectively.

Increased happiness

Another interesting finding was that limiting social media use increased happiness.

The researchers found that the group that limited their social media use showed greater happiness than the group that continued to use social media as they normally would. This suggests that social media use may be a barrier to happiness, and that limiting social media use may be a way to increase happiness.

Other benefits

In addition to increased resilience and happiness, limiting social media use also led to other benefits. The group that limited their social media use showed lower levels of anxiety and depression, as well as greater social support.

This suggests that limiting social media use may be a way to improve overall well-being.

The findings of this study have important implications for social media use.

While it may be difficult to completely give up social media, especially for people who rely on it for work or to stay in touch with friends and family, limiting social media use to just 15 minutes per day may be a way to reap the benefits of social media without experiencing the drawbacks.

It’s important to note that the study only looked at three social media platforms: Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat.

It’s possible that limiting use of other social media platforms may also lead to similar benefits, but more research is needed to determine this.

Conclusion

Overall, the findings of this study suggest that limiting social media use to just 15 minutes per day can have significant benefits for resilience, happiness, and overall well-being.

While it may be difficult to completely give up social media, even a small reduction in social media use may lead to significant improvements in mental health and well-being.