- A month-long randomized controlled trial found that blocking mobile internet access on smartphones for two weeks improved mental health, subjective well-being, and objectively measured sustained attention.
- 91% of participants showed improvement in at least one of these psychological outcomes, indicating broad positive effects from the intervention.
- Mediation analyses suggest that the improvements were partially due to changes in time use: participants spent more time socializing in person, exercising, and being in nature when mobile internet was blocked.
- The study provides causal evidence that constant connection to the internet via smartphones may harm time use, cognitive functioning, and well-being.