A little more than an hour of additional social media use each day is enough to drag down adolescents’ reading and memory scores, according to a new study that tracked more than 6,500 children as their screen time climbed during early adolescence.
Based on data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development study, researchers measured cognitive skills in children aged 9 to 13 using standardized tests of reading, memory, and vocabulary. The findings revealed that even low levels of increased social media use were associated with measurably poorer performance.
Small Increases, Measurable Impact
The study, recently published in JAMA, divided participants into three groups based on their social media habits and the trends of those habits. In one, about 58 percent showed no or very low social media use, in another, 37 percent had low increasing use, and in a final group, nearly 6 percent demonstrated high increasing social media use.
Compared with adolescents who used up to about 20 minutes of social media daily, those who used about 80 minutes a day read fewer words correctly and made more mistakes when tasked to match a word that they heard to a corresponding image. They also performed worse on a memory test. Those with high increasing use—adding roughly three hours per day—scored up to four points lower on the tests.
“This analysis found that both low and high increases in social media use throughout early adolescence were significantly associated with lower performance in specific aspects of cognitive function,” the study authors wrote.
Although the point differences may seem small, they could translate into real-world academic consequences, the researchers stated—potentially leading to longer completion times for assignments or falling behind in cumulative subjects, such as math and reading.
‘Real World’ Impact
The cognitive differences between children who use social media for long periods of time and those who do not are likely meaningful at the population level, Sheri Madigan, a registered clinical psychologist from the University of Calgary, and colleagues pointed out in an accompanying editorial.
The findings come at a time when some schools are considering phone bans during instructional hours, providing new evidence about how social media use might affect learning.
However, experts caution against drawing definitive conclusions about causation.
It’s hard to say that social media alone causes these changes, Dr. Nona Kocher, a Miami-based psychiatrist at Quintessence Psychiatry who was not involved in the study, told The Epoch Times.
“The study shows a link, but not proof of cause and effect,” she said. “Kids who spend more time online might also be sleeping less, reading less, or multitasking more, all of which can affect memory and focus.”
The home environment, school workload, and personality traits can also play a role, she said.
The researchers noted limitations, including reliance on self-reported social media use and that the study’s observational design cannot prove cause and effect.
Screens Are ‘Hijacking’ Children’s Time
Dr. Rahul Bansal, a board-certified child and adolescent psychiatrist and founder of MindWeal Health who was not involved in the study, frames the issue as one of displaced activity rather than direct harm.
“I don’t think social media is rewiring kids’ brains or acting like a toxin, but it’s definitely hijacking their time,” he told The Epoch Times.
Every hour spent scrolling is an hour not spent reading, learning, or trying something new, he said.
“The brain grows when it’s challenged—and social media replaces that challenge with constant stimulation,” Bansal said, adding that it also promotes poor habits, such as staying up late and losing sleep, which lead to problems with focusing in class. “When sleep and curiosity go down, learning always takes a hit.”
Bansal advises parents not to ban social media use but rather to “coach” it. He recommends setting clear limits and making screen time something children earn after finishing their daily responsibilities.
“Keep devices out of bedrooms, create quiet time before bed, and know which platforms they’re using,” he said. “Used thoughtfully, social media can help kids connect—without stealing their focus or sleep.”
Previous research by study author Dr. Jason Nagata, an associate professor of pediatrics at the University of California–San Francisco School of Medicine, focused primarily on mental health outcomes such as depression and anxiety related to social media use.
Heavy use can raise anxiety or depression in some teens, particularly when they compare themselves with others or become trapped in constant “online feedback loops,” Kocher said. The new study expands understanding into the cognitive realm, an area where less research has been conducted.
