This Simple Trick Could Finally Help You Cut Down on Phone Time
It shouldn't work – but it does.
A new study suggests that giving people control over their own screen time goals may be significantly more effective than imposing restrictions on them. Researchers from institutions in India and Spain conducted a 35-day experiment with 149 volunteers divided into three groups: those who selected their own reduction targets, those assigned a specific goal, and a control group with no objectives. The findings revealed a striking difference in outcomes between the first two groups.
Participants who chose their own screen time limits reduced their daily usage by approximately 49 minutes, nearly double the 23-minute reduction achieved by those assigned a target. The self-selected group also met their daily goals 11 percent more frequently than the assigned group. Notably, these positive changes persisted even after the study ended, with the self-directed group maintaining reduced usage weeks later.
The researchers believe that personal agency may enhance motivation and commitment to goals, or that customized targets simply feel more achievable. Survey responses also suggested improvements in overall well-being among those who successfully reduced phone time, though the mental health benefits require further investigation. While the study involved a relatively small sample monitored over a limited period, the results point to an encouraging possibility: allowing individuals to set their own digital boundaries could represent a straightforward, cost-free intervention for managing smartphone addiction.
Originally reported by Sciencealert →
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