AUTHOR=Maerevoet Matthias , Van de Casteele Marlies , Van de Putte Eowyn , Debeer Dries , Hoorelbeke Kristof , Vansteenkiste Maarten , Koster Ernst H. W. 

TITLE=Causal effects of social media use on self-esteem, mindfulness, sleep and emotional well-being: a social media restriction study

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Public Health

VOLUME=Volume 13 - 2025

YEAR=2025

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1548504

DOI=10.3389/fpubh.2025.1548504

ISSN=2296-2565

ABSTRACT=IntroductionThe question whether social media use (SMU) has a causal influence on mental health sparks a lot of interest. Empirical research to date shows no consensus on the causal effects of SMU on mental well-being. Therefore, the present study assessed if experimentally implemented restrictions in SMU led to improvements in well-being outcomes using a combination of self-report and passive sensing data.MethodsAfter a 2 week baseline phase, participants (M age = 21.42 years) were randomly assigned to an experimental (N = 35) or a passive control (N = 32) condition. Participants in the experimental condition were asked to limit their SMU to a maximum of 30 min (divided across their preferred apps) per day for two consecutive weeks, while participants in the control condition were instructed to continue their SMU as usual. After the intervention phase, participants in both conditions were followed up for 2 weeks during which all restrictions were removed. During the experiment, we monitored self-esteem, mindfulness, sleep, and emotional well-being.ResultsResults indicate a main effect of time for most outcomes, but the implemented SMU restriction did not moderate these effects.DiscussionIn conclusion, this study found no benefits from a temporary social media reduction on mental health outcomes.