Bądź onLife: Interwencja mająca na celu zmniejszenie korzystania z mediów społecznościowych przez młodzież i jej efekty
Be on Life: An Intervention Aimed at Reducing Social Media Use Among Young People and an Evaluation of Its Effectiveness

Summary/Abstract: Young people spend a significant amount of time on social media. Research shows that problematic social media use can lead to impaired mental functioning. Therefore, interventions are needed to help young people control their social media use, and the effectiveness of these interventions requires research. Research Aim: The study examined the effectiveness of the Be onLife intervention, which aims to reduce the amount of time young people spend on social media. Its impact on the psychological functioning of young people was also examined. Method: The research analyzed data from 397 secondary school students who were assigned to either the experimental or the control group. The three-week intervention included three meetings held at schools. The study comprised three measurements: before the intervention, after the intervention, and two weeks after its completion. The time spent using social media (Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok) was measured, as well as self-esteem, self-efficacy in regulating emotions, self-control, mindfulness, loneliness, anxiety, and depression. Results: There was no decrease in social media use or change in psychological functioning among the adolescents in the experimental group. After the intervention, no statistically significant differences were observed between the experimental and control groups in any of the analyzed variables. Analysis of the participants' comments revealed that the intervention prompted them to reflect on their social media usage. Conclusion: The intervention was not effective. However, it is one of the few social media related interventions whose effects have been empirically verified. This study can serve as a foundation for designing future interventions.

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