Social media users are being targeted by a major campaign to persuade them to give up their screens for the sake of their mental health.
Experts are increasingly concerned about the psychological impact of social media, particularly among the young.
They now plan a campaign for people to give up use of the websites for a month, based on the success of alcohol-free campaign ‘Dry January’ and quit smoking campaign ‘Stoptober’.
Scroll Free September aims to get people off social media for a month as experts grow increasingly concerned at the psychological impact
Scroll Free September, urges people to give up all social media activity for a month, on the basis they might not use it as much afterwards.
Polling for the Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) suggests two thirds of people would be perfectly willing to stop using social media. But for many peer pressure and the fear of missing out means they continue.
Previous research has found social media use is linked to heightened feelings of anxiety and depression, poor sleep and body images issues.
Claire Murdoch, NHS England’s national director for mental health, said: ‘We need to see concerted action, with everyone taking responsibility, including social media giants, so the NHS is not left to pick up the pieces of a mental health epidemic in the next generation.’
Research has found social media use is linked to heightened feelings of anxiety and depression, poor sleep and body images issues
Shirley Cramer, chief executive of RSPH, said: ‘Scroll Free September offers us all the opportunity to take back control of our relationship with social media, whether you choose to go cold turkey, or just abstain at social events.
‘The aim is that by the end of the month, we will be able to reflect back on what we missed, what we didn’t, and what we got to enjoy instead.
‘That knowledge could help us build a healthier, more balanced relationship with social media.
‘We know this will be a challenge because of the addictive nature of social media technology, which is why we need to work closely with the Government and the social media industry to create an online environment that is more conducive to positive mental health and wellbeing.’