Social Media Detox *MH

As of 2026, social media is widely used, with around 69% of the global population engaging with it. Users spend an average of 2 hours and 23 minutes daily, often across 7–8 platforms. While it offers benefits such as learning opportunities and access to niche communities, it can come with a biological cost.

Features like infinite scrolling can trigger dopamine responses similar to slot machines, encouraging repetitive use and reducing impulse control. Negative effects include increased anxiety and depression, reported by 37% of adults, as well as lower self-esteem due to constant social comparison.

Social Media addiction and the importance of detox - Source Adobe, created by Noon Pananya

Physical impacts such as poor sleep from disrupted circadian rhythms and issues like “tech neck” are also common. Caused by consistent poor posture, straining the neck and upper back from peering at screens.

A short digital detox of 24–72 hours can help reset cortisol levels and improve focus. Helpful strategies include setting a digital curfew, avoiding screens before bed, using grayscale mode, and keeping devices out of reach. Digital detoxing promotes better focus, creativity, and overall well-being.

Social media detox meme - Source pinterest.com

Art Inspiration for this week;

🎨 Grayscale transition – show how your world gets brighter when you turn off the screen. Colour your paper grey, then layer ‘living’ bright colours over the top (yellow, red, green, blue)

🎨 The digital curfew clock – what does your 60 mins before bed look like in your dream world? Draw a large circle, one side a clock face with numbers, wi-fi, app symbols, notify bell; The other side, ‘human connection’, holding hands, a book, a cup of tea, time with your pet.

🎨 Your unplugged self-portrait. Draw your self-portrait, instead of hair or clothes, fill your outline with things you love that don't require a battery; this could be achieved by a collage.

🎨 ‘The infinite scroll waterfall’ - Climbing out of a live feed… create a long vertical drawing capturing images from social media (likes, faces, ads) tumbling down into a dark void. At the bottom, show a person stepping out of the water onto dry land.

🎨 Freedom from ‘Tech Neck’ – Set your imagination free by symbolising a hunched figure over a small glowing object and focusing on the second figure standing tall, looking at the horizon, detoxed from the social media environment. What are your freedoms away from social media?

It will be a great evening of creativity! See you all soon 🙂 Wednesday evening, 7:30 pm UK time. Please join us on link-tree select All4Art https://linktr.ee/all4inclusion