What is the estimated Facebook deactivation effect size?

The estimated effect size of deactivating Facebook on users’ emotional state is a 0.060 standard deviation improvement in an index of happiness, depression, and anxiety, relative to controls who did not deactivate for the full six weeks before the 2020 U.S. election. This effect is statistically distinguishable from zero at the p < 0.01 level^[1].

The analysis suggests that the positive impact of Facebook deactivation is particularly driven by users over the age of 35, indicating a demographic by which this effect varies^[1].