Social networking sites abstinence and well-being: A longitudinal study

Many studies reported that adolescents and young adults who spent more time using social networking sites (SNS) have lower psychological well-being. There are different explanations of the negative relation between SNS use and well-being. One theoretical framework posits that SNSs engender feelings of social comparison and the fear of missing out, thereby inducing stress and frustration. Alternatively, SNS usage may simply displace other, more beneficial activities, thus contributing to a decline in overall well-being. The present study examined the effects of a period of abstinence from social networking sites (SNS). The investigation involved the study of subjective well-being, difficulties experienced during the abstinence period, activities that served as replacements for the time typically spent using SNS, and the long-term effects on the time of use of SNS. The study involved 42 university students who voluntarily accepted to abstain from using SNS for a period of seven days. Data were collected via self-report online questionnaires at three time points: before the abstinence period, during the abstinence period, and right after the abstinence period. The findings revealed that abstinence led to an enhancement in subjective well-being. The initial two days of abstinence were characterised by challenges, which subsequently diminished. The substitution of SNS usage with face-to-face interactions exhibited a favourable impact on well-being. A follow-up conducted one month after the study showed that time spent on SNS was lower compared to before the participation. The results imply that the promotion of digital detox is a potential area for future research.