A Danish sports physiologist warns that social media use before physical activity can cause mental fatigue and decrease performance.

Lars Johansen, a sports physiologist at the government body Team Denmark, warns that using social media shortly before exercise can lead to mental fatigue and reduced physical performance. Johansen, who has studied the link between social media and performance for four years, stated that the brain becomes exhausted and less motivated after such use.

Research and Performance Impact

Team Denmark has been monitoring international research since 2022. In one study, athletes who used social media for 30 minutes prior to a yo-yo fitness test performed 10% worse than a control group that watched television, resulting in a nearly 4% decline in their fitness score. Johansen noted that this reduction in physical capacity is comparable to smoking three to four cigarettes before an activity.

Practical Application and Recommendations

Danish Olympic curler Madeleine Dupont reported that her team restricted social media use before training and matches during the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina to maintain focus. Johansen suggests that these effects extend beyond elite athletes to recreational exercise and other tasks requiring mental focus, such as job interviews. He advises avoiding social media in the hours leading up to these activities rather than implementing a complete ban.