Digital trends show limited impact of social media detox and rising tech use among seniors

A scoping review published in Communications Psychology indicates that current research provides insufficient evidence to support social media restrictions for children. After analyzing 45 studies conducted between 2015 and 2025, researchers found that most attempts at “digital detox” or reduced usage resulted in small, inconsistent, or non-existent effects on mental health and well-being. The review highlighted significant methodological flaws and a lack of data on the primary target group, noting that only one study included a sample with an average age under 16.

Separately, a study by emporia Telecom reveals increasing digital integration among adults aged 50 and older in Germany and Austria. Among respondents aged 70 and above, 81 percent use messaging apps like WhatsApp, Signal, or Telegram at least once a week, surpassing the 69 percent who use traditional telephone calls. The study also found that 35 percent of this demographic actively uses AI applications such as ChatGPT or Siri on their smartphones. Google and weather apps remain the most frequent information sources, while approximately 74 percent of participants view an emergency button feature on smartphones as a useful tool.