A groundbreaking study by Stanford University has found that taking a break from social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram can significantly improve emotional well-being. In one of the largest randomized controlled trials of its kind, over 35,000 U.S.-based users were paid to deactivate either Facebook or Instagram for one to six weeks.

Led by professors Hunt Allcott and Matthew Gentzkow, the study aimed to understand how time away from social media impacts mood. Participants were paid $25 per week to deactivate their accounts. While some opted for a one-week break, others stayed off the platforms for six weeks, earning up to $150.

Results showed that users who quit Facebook for six weeks felt 6% happier, while those who left Instagram experienced a 4% mood improvement. Older Facebook users (35+) saw the biggest benefits, while young women (18–24) experienced the strongest uplift on Instagram.

Interestingly, many Instagram users quickly shifted to other apps, whereas Facebook users spent more time offline - about nine extra minutes daily. 

Still, the study highlights that even short breaks from social media can provide meaningful mental health benefits.