A recent study reveals a concerning trend: preteens who spend more time on social media may be at risk of lower academic performance. But is it time to hit the panic button? The debate is on!
The research, published in JAMA, suggests that preteens who increase their social media usage over time perform worse in reading, vocabulary, and memory tests compared to their peers who use little to no social media. This finding has sparked discussions among experts, with some calling it an exciting revelation and others urging caution.
Psychologist Mitch Prinstein, not involved in the study, believes it confirms what schools have been observing: kids are struggling to focus and learn due to the impact of social media on their information processing abilities. However, the study's focus on cognition is a fresh perspective, as previous research has primarily explored the mental health implications of social media use.
The study's author, pediatrician Jason Nagata, emphasizes the importance of understanding how social media use during school hours affects learning, especially as many schools consider phone bans. The research draws data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study, which tracks thousands of preteens through adolescence to study brain development.
Participants were categorized into three groups based on their social media usage patterns. Interestingly, even those with moderate usage, around an hour daily by age 13, scored 1-2 points lower on reading and memory tests compared to non-users. The group with the highest usage, spending 3+ hours daily, scored 4-5 points lower.
Psychologist Sheri Madigan highlights the 'dosage effect' of social media apps, suggesting that even small amounts can be problematic. Prinstein adds that seemingly minor score differences can indicate significant shifts in a child's developmental trajectory, potentially leading to larger gaps in the future.
Nagata also points to other studies using ABCD data, which found that most kids start using social media before age 13 and exhibit addiction-like symptoms with smartphones. These findings emphasize the need for age restrictions on social media, with countries like Denmark and Australia already taking steps in this direction.
As the debate continues, one thing is clear: adolescence is a crucial period for brain development, and the impact of social media on this process is a topic that demands further exploration and action.
