Smartphone Abstinence Boosts Youth Well-being, Reduces Depression and Sleep Issues

Children and adolescents who gave up their smartphones for three weeks reported substantial improvements in their mental well-being, according to the results of "The Great ORF Dok 1 Smartphone Experiment." The study, scientifically monitored by the Anton Proksch Institute, involved nearly 46,000 young participants from Austria, Switzerland, Germany, and South Tyrol.

The experiment revealed a marked decrease in sleep problems and depressive phases among participants. After three weeks, the proportion of those experiencing no depression symptoms increased by about 15 percent. Mild to moderate depression symptoms dropped by approximately 10 percent, and even severe depression cases saw a reduction from 2.9 percent to 1.7 percent. Sleep disturbances, both falling asleep and staying asleep, decreased by over 20 percent.

Psychologist Oliver Scheibenbogen noted that these sleep improvements occurred without medication, simply by reducing smartphone use. The study also indicated a shift in internet usage habits, with problematic internet use dropping from nearly 71 percent to 58 percent after the three-week break. Notably, two-thirds of the students favored social media bans for younger age groups, with many suggesting a ban until at least age 12.

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It doesn't take medication to improve sleep; simply giving up the phone is enough, and one notices improvements.