To detox or not to detox? The impact of different approaches to social media detox strategies on body image and wellbeing

Veya Seekis; Kate E. Mulgrew; Ivanka Prichard; Hannah Manning; Isabella Wood; Cloudia Stevenson

doi:10.1016/j.bodyim.2024.101849

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To detox or not to detox? The impact of different approaches to social media detox strategies on body image and wellbeing

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

To detox or not to detox? The impact of different approaches to social media detox strategies on body image and wellbeing

Veya Seekis, Kate E. Mulgrew, Ivanka Prichard, Hannah Manning, Isabella Wood and Cloudia Stevenson

Body Image, Vol.52, pp.1-12

2025

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2024.101849

PMID: 39798384

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Abstract

Appearance satisfaction

Body image

Cleanse

Detox

Social media

Wellbeing

This study compared the efficacy of three 7-day detox strategies on young women's body image and wellbeing. The three strategies were: (a) Insta/TikTok break, (b) daily time-cap (30 minutes max), and (c) Insta/TikTok cleanse (removing appearance-focused content from feeds). A sample of 175 women aged 17–35 (M = 22.71) was randomized into one of the three detox conditions or social media use as usual. Participants completed assessments of self-objectification, appearance satisfaction, body appreciation, media pressure, and wellbeing at baseline, day 3 (check-in) and day 7 (posttest). Significant interactions showed that appearance satisfaction improved for all three detox groups from baseline to posttest, but no changes occurred for the control group. Appearance satisfaction also increased from day 3 to posttest in the Insta/TikTok cleanse group. Wellbeing improved from baseline to posttest for the daily time-cap group. Increases in wellbeing also occurred from day 3 to day 7 for the Insta/TikTok break and daily time-cap groups. No further interactions were found. Findings shed light on the varying effects of three 7-day social media detox strategies for promoting appearance satisfaction and overall wellbeing. Cleansing Instagram and TikTok feeds of appearance-focused content emerged as a particularly promising approach for improving appearance satisfaction.

Details

Title: To detox or not to detox? The impact of different approaches to social media detox strategies on body image and wellbeing
Authors: Veya Seekis (Corresponding Author) - Griffith University
Kate E. Mulgrew - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Health - Psychology
Ivanka Prichard - Flinders University
Hannah Manning - Flinders University
Isabella Wood - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Graduate Research School
Cloudia Stevenson - Griffith University
Publication details: Body Image, Vol.52, pp.1-12
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date published: 2025
DOI: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2024.101849
ISSN: 1873-6807
PMID: 39798384
Data Availability: The authors do not have permission to share data.
Organisation Unit: Graduate Research School; Cancer Research Cluster
Language: English
Record Identifier: 991103723702621
Output Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration
Web Of Science research areas: Psychiatry; Psychology, Clinical; Psychology, Multidisciplinary

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