How you spend your free time matters. And for many people, free time is increasingly being consumed by social media. As of 2024, the average internet user spends 143 minutes on social media each day — that’s nearly two and a half hours, not counting time spent on other sites. In comparison, users spent “only” 90 minutes per day on social media in 2012.

This fixation on social media has been found to have serious negative consequences, particularly when it comes to mental health. On the other hand, games like Solitaire have been found to have the opposite effect, improving both cognitive function and mental health.

As Vadim Khrulev, founder of Kraisoft, the parent company of The Solitaire explains, there is good reason for these seemingly opposite findings.

The Dangers of Social Media

Social media has become an inescapable, ever-present part of society. And while it has certainly created new opportunities for social connection, there is no denying the negative influence it has had on many users’ brains.

The most pronounced danger of social media is its impact on mental health, especially in regards to depression and anxiety. Yale Medicine reports that teens who use social media for more than three hours a day are twice as likely to experience depression, anxiety and other negative mental health outcomes. Excess social media use has also been found to contribute to sleep and attention problems, as well as feelings of social isolation.

As Khrulev notes, social media isn’t just dangerous for teens:

“While many news stories focus on how cyberbullying, body image issues and other social media hazards affect teens, the reality is that people of all age groups can be negatively impacted by these social media dangers. Social media algorithms can continuously feed harmful information to users, making them think everyone around them is depressed, or only focusing on negative news stories that heighten anxiety and worry. Social media trains us to compare ourselves to others and become dissatisfied with our own lives.”

Social media addiction, in particular, has become a noteworthy problem. It’s estimated that 10% of Americans are addicted to social media and the internet, in part because of the endless scrolling and sense of instant gratification offered by many platforms.

“Addiction and overuse can disrupt the brain’s ability to manage dopamine, which makes it harder for social media users to feel pleasure from other activities,” Khrulev explains.

“Dopamine disruption can fuel even stronger impulsive and addictive behaviors, creating a vicious cycle that is hard for users to escape from. They may become withdrawn from family and friends or other activities that they used to enjoy. Taken too far, addiction can even disrupt performance at work or school.”

The potentially addictive qualities of social media, especially when combined with content that triggers depression, anxiety and other mental health issues, can become catastrophic to an individual’s well-being.

Solitaire’s Cognitive and Mental Health Benefits

While social media can contribute to a variety of mental health problems, Solitaire stands at the opposite end of the spectrum — providing meaningful benefits to cognitive performance and emotional well-being.

“Playing Solitaire is a form of cognitive exercise,” Khrulev explains.

“While it’s not as demanding as other activities, it still requires that you concentrate and think strategically in order to complete the game. This can actually help improve your memory skills and strategic thinking, especially when you play regularly. Solitaire can help you learn how to solve problems with multiple approaches or to think through your decisions. All of this can have a very real effect on your focus, memory and problem-solving skills in other areas of life, too.”

These types of activities aren’t just worthwhile for improving your cognitive skills now — they can also play a significant role in preventing cognitive decline. According to the Alzheimer Society, regularly exercising your mind can improve quality of life for people with dementia by offering much-needed brain stimulation. Such activities can even reduce cognitive decline.

Solitaire can also benefit players’ emotional health. Khrulev explains, “Playing Solitaire puts you in a light meditative state, because it gives you something to focus on without being too demanding. This offers a great opportunity to calm the mind and relax, rather than turning to anxiety-inducing activities like scrolling social media. It can also give you time to reflect on your day or your decisions, improving your self-awareness. And finally, completing a game can give you a big mood boost and a powerful sense of accomplishment.”

These mental and emotional outcomes can have a big impact on quality of life. Self-awareness has been linked to increased confidence, improved decision-making, better work performance and communication and even stronger relationships. Those are powerful outcomes from what on the surface looks like a simple game.

Choose Your Time Wisely

While social media can be harmful to your mental and emotional health, games like Solitaire can have the opposite effect. In a time when most smartphones are always within reach, it’s an important reminder to consider how people spend time on their digital devices.

By shifting time away from social media and instead focusing on beneficial games and activities, you can experience a big difference in many aspects of your life.

Healthcare disclaimer:

This article is for informational purposes only and does not substitute for professional medical advice. If you are seeking medical advice, diagnosis or treatment, please consult a medical professional or healthcare provider.