Reducing social media use decreases loneliness regardless of gender or level of social comparisons in youth with anxiety and depression: A randomized controlled trial | Synapse
March 3, 2026
Reducing social media use decreases loneliness regardless of gender or level of social comparisons in youth with anxiety and depression: A randomized controlled trial
Key Points
Loneliness significantly decreases after reducing social media use, especially in youth with anxiety and depression.
The randomized controlled trial included various gender and social comparison levels, affirming effect consistency.
Participants reported lower loneliness scores after a set reduction in social media usage over a defined period.
The findings highlight the potential benefit of limiting social media for mental health improvement in youth populations.