Study Finds Cutting Back on Mobile Internet Boosts Well-Being

A new study, co-authored by Dr. Kushlev, revealed that reducing—not eliminating—mobile internet use can significantly improve mental health, attention, and overall well-being. Researchers conducted a two-week trial where participants blocked internet access on their smartphones while still being able to call and text. Results showed that 91% of participants experienced positive changes, such as better focus and increased engagement in offline activities like exercise and in-person socializing.

However, many participants struggled to fully comply with the restriction, highlighting that complete disconnection may not be necessary. Instead, the study suggests setting boundaries—like limiting mindless scrolling and disabling notifications—can yield meaningful benefits. Rather than a full digital detox, small changes in phone habits may be the key to a healthier, more balanced life.

Read the full publication here:

https://doi.org/10.1093/pnasnexus/pgaf017

Photo by Sten Ritterfeld on Unsplash

Welcoming new research assistants Kace and Zara to the lab!

This week we are welcoming two new research assistants to our lab: Kace Boland and Zara Niazi! Both Kace and Zara will assist with onboarding sessions for our NIMH-funded study assessing the effect of initial exposure to social media on adolescent mental health.

Ask a Professor Series: Feature on Smartphone Addiction

Dr. Kushlev was recently featured on Georgetown's "Ask a Professor" series, providing various insights on smartphone addiction! Check it out here: 

https://www.georgetown.edu/news/ask-a-professor-smartphone-addiction/.

Does detoxing from digital devices at specific times of the day improve college students' well-being?

Happy Tech Lab researchers Dexter King, Kibum Moon, and Kostadin Kushlev recently tested the impact and effectiveness of time-specific digital detox interventions among college students, intending to reduce digital device use before and after sleep…

“Results indicated that participants found it difficult to comply even with such brief digital detox practices, and that there was no difference in daily affect between those who were assigned an intervention compared to the control group. However, when students successfully practiced digital detox before bed, they used their phones less and felt better the following day compared to control participants, and practicing digital detox in the morning more often was associated with better daily affect. Future research should examine how to help people practice digital detox more effectively, with a particular focus on curbing phone use at critical times of day, such as before and after sleep.”

Read the preprint below for more information:

https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/hbjzm

Photo by Adrian Swancar on Unsplash

Study on smartphone self-extension published in Psychology of Popular Media

A study by Dr. Morgan Quinn Ross and Dr. Kostadin Kushlev was recently published in Psychology of Popular Media. See the abstract for “Antecedents and consequences of smartphone self-extension” below!

“The psychological connection between mobile media (e.g., smartphones) and the self is a central consideration of mobile communication scholarship. Using a two-wave panel design (N = 227), we tested potential antecedents and consequences of a key construct that indexes this connection—smartphone self-extension. Both functionality and identity self-extension predicted perceiving smartphone use as more enjoyable. Moreover, functionality self-extension was predicted by frequent and habitual smartphone use, whereas identity self-extension was predicted by smartphone use to pass time while bored, problematic smartphone use, and viewing the smartphone as a reflection of self (and predicted less autonomy). These findings pave the way for future research and theory on smartphone self-extension.”

Photo by Jonas Leupe on Unsplash