Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentIndependentSwipe for next articleIndependent Bulletin homepageDownload our appAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleRhian LubinThursday 09 April 2026 15:52 BSTInstagram and YouTube found liable in landmark social media addiction trialThe average American spends roughly four to five hours on their phone a day.A PNAS Nexus study revealed that a two-week digital detox, involving blocking internet access on phones, improved participants' mood, attention, and mental health, and could effectively erase 10 years of age-related cognitive decline.The study also indicated that even a partial or short-term digital detox can yield positive results for mental well-being.Further research from Harvard, published in JAMA Network Open, showed that reducing smartphone use for just one week led to a decrease in anxiety, depression, and insomnia among participants.Governments are beginning to respond to these concerns, with Massachusetts progressing a bill to ban social media for under-14s and Indonesia implementing a ban for under-16s.In fullHooked on social media? This is how to detox your brain and reverse 10 years of damage, science saysThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in