Scrolling through social media takes longer than eating and exercising, new research finds

We spend more time on social media than we do eating or exercising, according to a new study.

The study, conducted by the University of Canterbury, surveyed nearly 400 social media users aged 18 to 44 about their use of Facebook and Instagram.

Those surveyed spent an average of two and a half hours a day on the platforms.

Study participants showed signs of addiction, reporting that they were subconsciously drawn to using social media.

Ksenia Zarkhai, a lecturer at the University of Canterbury, gave a talk Checkpoint’Lisa Owen said many people underestimate the time spent on platforms.

“The average user spends about 2.5 hours a day on social media.

“This amount of time may not seem like much, but it adds up to 37 days, which is more than one month spent on social media per year without a break.”

For young people across Aotearoa, this number is significantly higher and is often seven or eight hours a day.

“There have been many other stories telling (us) that (some) some social media users spend more than 10 hours a day.

“Such use has consequences, and there is plenty of research showing that excessive use of social media can lead to anxiety, depression, low self-esteem and distorted perceptions of yourself and others.”

There is also physical danger. For example, drivers who do not put their phones behind the wheel.

“There were different experiences shared by our members.

“One of them said that they had a situation where they were driving through the countryside… they received a push notification and reached the phone: a large animal was crossing the road. Deer.

“They were lucky to avoid this accident.”

Because of the way our brains work, she says, checking social media is often an impulse rather than a deliberate decision.

So even when users are aware of the harm caused by overuse, it can be very difficult to stop.

“This is why people sometimes connect impulsively, even against their values, despite understanding the harm to their well-being.”

From mindless to conscious

While there is no magic bullet to reduce time spent on social media, there are steps you can take.

“Based on our research, we suggest at least three simple steps.

“First of all, try to reduce the number of impulsive triggers by turning off notifications and trying to keep your phone out of reach.

“The second step is to set social media usage goals based on your intentions for social media use rather than time constraints.

“This is very important.

“The third is attracting valuable content.

“If you’ve heard of social media algorithms, they show the content we interact with all the time, so you can actually control what you see in your news feed.

“Here’s how you can refresh (and) move from mindless to mindful use of social media.”

“Too nice”

Some Wellingtonians who spoke to RNZ said they spend up to six hours a day checking their feed.

“If you’re hanging out at a friend’s house, it’s definitely easiest to pick up your phone and scroll… (we’re) Snapchatting when we’re around each other, where we should be actually being active and, you know, talking.” .

Another user said she deleted TikTok after spending up to five hours on the screen.

“And after I removed it, it got a lot better.”

Another said they find social media “so exciting.”

“You absentmindedly pick up your phone, open the app, and half an hour later you might still be scrolling through videos.

“It’s nice, but maybe too nice. It was much more difficult for me to do things like read a book.”

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