How did the 2020 election influence wellbeing?

The 2020 election influenced well-being significantly, as evidenced by a study on social media deactivation. Participants who deactivated Facebook for six weeks before the election reported a 0.060 standard deviation improvement in their emotional state, indicating increased happiness and reduced anxiety and depression compared to controls who deactivated for only one week. Instagram users experienced a 0.041 standard deviation improvement during the same period, highlighting distinct effects based on platform usage and demographics, particularly among women under 25 for Instagram and individuals over 35 for Facebook^[1].

Additionally, the political context heightened stress levels, with 68 percent of American adults identifying the election as a significant source of stress. This correlation raises questions about how social media use during such stressful periods affects emotional well-being^[1].