06/15/2026
Two weeks without mobile internet restored sustained attention to levels typical of someone ten years younger.
A recent preregistered randomized controlled trial published in PNAS Nexus demonstrates that simply disabling mobile internet access on smartphones—while retaining calls, texts, and computer-based browsing—can yield substantial psychological benefits in as little as two weeks.
Participants who blocked mobile data showed marked enhancements in sustained attention (with objective test performance improving to levels comparable to reversing a decade of typical age-related decline), mental health (including reductions in depression and anxiety symptoms exceeding those often seen with antidepressants), and subjective well-being (higher life satisfaction and positive affect). Notably, 91% of participants improved in at least one of these domains.
The key insight is that the intervention targets the unique "always-available" connectivity of smartphones, which drives constant interruptions and fragmented focus. Without this mobile tether, individuals reported reallocating time toward in-person socializing, exercise, and nature—activities that mediated much of the gains.
Although not all cognitive functions were affected equally, and full compliance varied, even partial adherence produced meaningful benefits. This evidence underscores how pervasive mobile connectivity may quietly erode mental clarity and mood, making targeted digital breaks a practical strategy for reclaiming focus in a hyper-connected era.
[Castelo, N., & Kushlev, K. (2025). Blocking mobile internet on smartphones improves sustained attention, mental health, and subjective well-being. PNAS Nexus, 4(2), pgaf017]
