PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – It’s part of the daily routine for many young people, but a group of students at Holy Family University are going Facebook-free for 30 days.

Some students are struggling with Facebook addiction.  That’s according to Diana Piperata, the director of the Counseling Center at Holy Family University. 

“What I’m seeing is a definite increase in symptoms of depression, symptoms of anxiety, relational issues,” Piperata says. “They are losing the ability to communicate intimately in relationships.”

Piperata and Resident Advisor Andrea Mantilla came up with the idea for the Facebook challenge. 

Mantilla says she deactivated her account nearly four months ago, “I believe that I rely more in actual communications, face to face–not so much on Facebook”

Mantilla says she has less stress, better relationships and a better GPA.

Reported by Suzanne Monaghan, KYW Newsradio