Health Tips: We all want to be fit, both physically and mentally. For this, we get involved in various kinds of physical activities and do yoga. But you can significantly improve general health and immune function by simply reducing social media use by 15 minutes a day. According to new research, this will also reduce levels of loneliness and depression. The study has been published in the Journal of Technology in Behavior Science.
The study showed that people had an average 15 per cent improvement in immune function when they reduced their social media use. This included fewer colds, flu, warts, and verrucae.
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50 per cent improvement in sleep quality
By curtailing the use of social media, people also showed a 50 per cent improvement in sleep quality. This also had a positive impact on mental status and people showed 30 per cent fewer depressive symptoms.
“These data demonstrate that people can improve their lives when by simply reducing their social media use. There are several benefits of limiting the time people spend on social media. This has several benefits – including benefits for their physical health and psychological well-being,” said Professor Phil Reed, from Swansea University’s School of Psychology.
Professor Phil Reed said that more studies will be required to establish whether the relationship between social media use and health factors is a direct one or whether changes in other factors of well-being variables. “These factors include depression, or other factors, such as an increase in physical activity, mediate it,” he added.
Social media platforms are designed to be addictive
According to the professor, social media platforms are designed to be addictive. The usage of social media is associated with anxiety, depression, and even physical ailments.
Another study published by the American Psychological Association showed also made similar observations. The study found that teenagers and young adults who reduced their social media use by 50 per cent for just a few weeks saw significant improvement in how they felt about both their weight and their overall appearance.
