By New research is shedding light on how children’s social media habits may be affecting their ability to learn. A new study published in JAMA finds that kids who spend more time on social media perform worse on reading, vocabulary, and memory tests than those who use it less. Researchers say the results raise concerns about how online engagement might be shaping young brains. As social media becomes a daily habit for many preteens, experts warn it could interfere with focus and learning. The findings add to growing evidence that digital behavior can subtly influence children’s cognitive development.
Social Media Use May Affect Kids’ Learning Ability
Children spending more time on social media could be seeing a decline in their academic abilities. A recent study published in JAMA found that preteens who use social media frequently score lower on reading, vocabulary, and memory tests compared to their peers who use it less or not at all.
“This is a really exciting study,” said Mitch Prinstein, a psychologist at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, who wasn’t part of the research. “It confirms what we’ve been hearing from schools — that kids are struggling to focus and learn because of how social media changes the way they process information.”
The Study Behind the Findings
The research, led by Dr. Jason Nagata, a pediatrician at the University of California, San Francisco, focused on how social media use during school hours affects learning. While previous research has mostly explored links to mental health, this study examined the connection between social media and cognitive performance — specifically, reading, vocabulary, and memory skills.
The team analyzed data from nearly 6,000 participants in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study, one of the largest ongoing studies of brain development in the U.S.
Children were first assessed between ages 9 and 10 and followed through early adolescence. Each year, they reported how much time they spent on social media, and every two years, they completed tests to measure learning and memory.
How Social Media Habits Were Measured
Researchers divided the children into three groups based on their social media habits over time:
- Low or No Use Group (58%) – Children who used social media little or not at all.
- Moderate Users (37%) – Kids who began using it moderately, reaching about one hour daily by age 13.
- High Users (6%) – Those who spent three or more hours daily on social media by age 13.
Even Limited Use Tied to Lower Scores
When the team compared test scores, they found even modest social media use had an impact.
“What surprised me was that even kids who used social media for about an hour a day by age 13 scored one to two points lower on reading and memory tasks,” said Nagata.
Children in the high-use group — spending three or more hours daily — scored four to five points lower on average than those who didn’t use social media.
“That really speaks to the dosage effect,” said Sheri Madigan, a psychologist at the University of Calgary who wrote an editorial on the study. “It’s problematic at very high levels, but even smaller doses can be harmful.”
Small Differences Today Could Grow Over Time
According to Prinstein, who also serves as chief of psychology strategy and integration at the American Psychological Association, even small cognitive changes can have long-term consequences.
“Early differences, even just a few points, can send kids on different learning paths,” he explained. “In a few years, those small gaps may translate into major academic differences.”
Nagata added that social media use tends to increase during the teenage years. “By ages 15 to 17, usage will likely be much higher,” he said. “We might then see even larger disparities in learning and memory.”
Growing Concerns About Youth and Smartphones
Previous studies using the same ABCD data have uncovered other troubling trends. Nearly two-thirds of children start using social media before age 13, often managing three or more accounts.
Nagata’s team also found that many children report smartphone dependency symptoms.
“Half of the kids said they lose track of how much time they’re spending on their phones,” Nagata noted. “One in ten said that social media use was hurting their school performance.”
Why Adolescence Is a Crucial Time for Brain Development
Experts warn that adolescence is one of the most critical periods for brain growth and reorganization.
“After the first year of life, adolescence is when the brain undergoes the most significant structural changes,” said Prinstein. His research suggests that constant exposure to feedback on social media — likes, comments, and shares — can make young brains more sensitive to validation and online attention.
Calls for Stronger Age-Based Regulations
Given these findings, Madigan believes that clear policies and age restrictions for social media are urgently needed.
“Denmark recently banned social media use for children under 15,” she noted. “And Australia will soon require platforms to prevent users under 16 from creating accounts.”
She expects other countries will follow suit. “These policies could help protect developing brains and support healthier learning habits,” she said.
The Bottom Line
The research adds to growing evidence that social media, while connecting kids to peers, may also interfere with learning and brain development — even in small doses. Experts agree that parents, educators, and policymakers must find ways to balance technology use with children’s cognitive and emotional well-being.
