this post was submitted on 18 Dec 2025
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In one of the largest randomized trials of its kind, Stanford researchers examined what happens when people stop using Facebook and Instagram (web.stanford.edu)
submitted 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) by kwero@sh.itjust.works to c/science@lemmy.world
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Importantly, participants in our study only turned off their Facebook or Instagram accounts. Much of the freed-up time was shifted to other smartphone apps, including other social media.

An experiment that restricted access to a wider set of apps could have had larger effects

https://web.stanford.edu/~gentzkow/research/emotional_state_op_ed.pdf

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[–] UnspecificGravity@piefed.social 33 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (1 children)

Cutting the VAST majority of social media and replacing it with reading, listening to music, and talking to people, has dramatically improved my quality of life, but it really wasn't easy.

[–] MOARbid1@piefed.social 9 points 3 months ago

Hey, you’re doing great!

[–] 13igTyme@piefed.social 10 points 3 months ago (1 children)

I only use Piefed, and barely. The fact that it just causes a shift in social media use is depressing.

[–] atrielienz@lemmy.world 6 points 3 months ago

It proves something we already knew.

  1. Humans are social animals and they look to make connections with other humans.
  2. Humans have a hard time making connections IRL in this day and age because we have very much made the real world a pay to play hellscape.

So basically, to interact with people who enjoy what you enjoy and talk to people about hobbies and interests we seek out social media because we don't get that interaction elsewhere.