Some teens put their phones down for a week, and here's what happened

A funny thing happened when a group of Kingston, Ont., teens put their smartphones away for a week.Theyslept better, they went outside, theyspent time with their friends and family, and when they got bored, they thought deep thoughts.

Six teens between the ages of 13 and 17 recently took part in a research project called the "Disconnection Challenge." The participants logged outof their social media accounts for oneweek, but were allowed to usetheir smartphones for school work, contacting their parents and checkingworkschedules.

When they sat with boredom and didn't pick up their phone, that's when they thought deep thoughts. And to me that was really the coolest thing that came out of it.- Valerie Steeves, lead researcher

"They were focusing on their connectionstheir connections to themselves, their connections to other peopleand their connections to nature," said Valerie Steeves, the University of Ottawa researcherwho led the study, onCBC Radio's Ottawa Morning.

The teens kept diaries the week before and the week of their seven-day social media fast.

"One of the things that really struck us in the diaries when we looked at it together right away was in day one, day two, a lot of them said, 'Oh, this is such a relief. I don't have to worry about social media,'" said Steeves.

By the middle of the week, students noted they were sleeping betterand talking more with their parents and family. But they also notedthey were getting bored, according to Steeves.

Spent more time outside

"They said that weuse social media or wereach for our phones when we're bored," said Steeves. "What I found really fascinating is when they sat with boredom and didn't pick up their phone, that's when they thought deep thoughts. And to me that was really the coolest thing that came out of it."

The teens also reported spending more time outside, connecting with friends in person rather than just communicating via social media.

At the end of the week researchers produced a video ofthe students' testimonialsexpressingwhat they had learned and how they felt. They want to share it in hopes of inspiring other young people to take a break from social media.

Steevesbelieves adults can also lead by example by putting their phones down and taking a good look at how the whole family can better manage time spent online.

"So I think it creates a moment for adults to talk to their kids about these kinds of things, and see the kinds of stresses they're under and how adults can support them better," she said.