For years, digital minimalists have argued that social media and constant internet access come at a hidden cost. Now, science is catching up.
A recent study published in PNAS Nexus found that blocking mobile internet access on smartphones for just two weeks significantly improved participants’ attention, mental health, and overall well-being. Researchers reported improvements in sustained attention comparable to being 10 years younger, while mental health gains exceeded those typically observed with antidepressant treatment.
This detox may erase 10 years of social media brain damage, researchers say. The study used the Freedom app to help participants disconnect from the constant stream of notifications, feeds, and online distractions.
What’s particularly encouraging is that participants didn’t need to abandon technology entirely. They could still access the internet through computers. The key change was removing the always-available internet from their pockets. Researchers believe this reduced constant interruptions, encouraged more face-to-face interaction, improved sleep, and created space for activities that genuinely contribute to well-being.
The lesson is simple: you don’t need to move to a cabin in the woods. Sometimes, reclaiming your attention starts with something as small as deleting a few apps or temporarily blocking access to them.
Your brain may thank you for it.
References
Noah Castelo, Kostadin Kushlev, Adrian F Ward, Michael Esterman, Peter B Reiner, Blocking mobile internet on smartphones improves sustained attention, mental health, and subjective well-being, PNAS Nexus, Volume 4, Issue 2, February 2025, pgaf017, https://doi.org/10.1093/pnasnexus/pgaf017
