Those assigned to restrict social media reported relatively few benefits (increased mindfulness, but not higher life satisfaction autonomy, competence, & self-esteem, and reduced loneliness & stress) & even some costs (more negative emotion)

Walsh, Lisa C., Annie Regan, Karynna Okabe-Miyamoto, and Sonja Lyubomirsky. 2021. “Does Putting Away Your Smartphone Make You Happier? the Effects of Restricting Digital Media and Social Media on Well-being.” PsyArXiv. November 8. doi:10.31234/osf.io/c3phw

Abstract: Both scientists and laypeople have become increasingly concerned about smartphones, especially their associated digital media (e.g., email, news, gaming, and dating apps) and social media (e.g., Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat). Recent correlational research links substantial declines in Gen Z well-being to digital and social media use, yet other work suggests the effects are small and unnoteworthy. To further disentangle correlation from causation and better elucidate the strength and direction of effects, we conducted a pre-registered 8-day experimental deprivation study with Gen Z individuals (N = 338). Participants were randomly assigned to one of four conditions: (1) restrict digital media use, (2) restrict social media use, (3) restrict water use (active control), or (4) restrict nothing (measurement-only control). Relative to controls, participants restricting digital media reported a variety of benefits, including higher life satisfaction, mindfulness, autonomy, competence, and self-esteem, and reduced loneliness and stress. In contrast, those assigned to restrict social media reported relatively few benefits (increased mindfulness) and even some costs (more negative emotion).