When TikTok was temporarily banned in the United States for 12 hours on Sunday, January 19, 2025, social media users found themselves in an unexpected digital detox.
The brief break, sparked by growing concerns over the app’s influence, left many wondering: could a break from endless scrolling be exactly what we need?
For years, doom-scrolling – spending excessive time consuming content on social media – has been linked to increased levels of stress, anxiety, and sleep disturbances. Yet, for millions of TikTok users, it has become a nightly ritual.
Dr Zaheer Hussain, a Senior Lecturer in Psychology at Nottingham Trent University, warns that excessive social media use can have significant mental health repercussions, particularly among women.
“Social media use can be bad for mental health, especially due to social comparisons and problematic use,” he said. He also recommends regular digital detoxing to combat these effects.
During the brief blackout, some users described the break as “refreshing,” providing a rare moment to step back. Prominent TikTok influencers shared heartfelt messages during the outage, mourning the potential loss of platforms they’ve relied on to build communities and careers over the past several years. But for many everyday users, the pause was an eye-opener, a glimpse into life without the pull of endless content.
The term “doom-scrolling” has become synonymous with this era of content. Platforms like TikTok and Instagram are engineered to keep users engaged, with infinite feeds and algorithm-driven recommendations. While these features make apps addictive, they also contribute to feelings of disconnection.
The 12-hour break left many users pondering whether intentional “timeouts” could benefit their mental well-being. Dr Hussain has expressed the idea of implementing weekly or monthly app-free days to help reset.
Taking yourself off into nature, feeling a connection to the space around you and having the time to pick up new hobbies can be beneficial for your mental health.
Having the discipline to take a break from the screen could be the next step to a healthier you.
