Spending too much time on social media might be hurting how children think, remember, and learn. A new study published in the journal *JAMA* found that kids who use social media more often tend to perform worse on tests that measure memory, reading, and vocabulary.
The study looked at 6,554 children between the ages of 9 and 13. These kids were part of a larger research project called the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study, which is tracking the health and brain development of over 11,000 children in the U.S. as they grow up.
Researchers discovered that the average preteen spends about five and a half hours each day looking at screens for fun — and much of that time is spent on social media. Unlike watching TV or videos, social media involves constant interaction. Kids are scrolling, posting, checking for likes and comments, and messaging friends. This keeps the brain very busy and always alert.
Scientists already know that spending too much time on social media can lead to mental health problems like anxiety and depression in teens. However, until now, it wasn’t clear if social media use could also affect how kids think and learn.
To find out, the researchers studied social media habits over three years and grouped the children into three categories based on how much time they spent on social media:
– About 58% of kids barely used social media.
– Around 37% used it a little and gradually increased their time.
– A small group, about 6%, used social media heavily and kept increasing their time as they got older.
The researchers then tested the children’s brain skills using the NIH Toolbox Cognition Battery. These tests measured how well the children could read, remember information, process data quickly, and understand vocabulary.
The results showed a clear pattern: the more social media kids used, the worse they did on these cognitive tests. Children in the heavy-use group scored the lowest, especially on memory and language tests. Those who didn’t use social media or used it very little scored the highest.
It is important to note that this study does not prove social media causes the lower test scores, but it does reveal a strong connection. More research is needed to understand exactly how social media affects brain development and whether certain platforms or activities might be more harmful than others.
Still, these findings suggest that it might be a good idea for parents and teachers to set limits on social media use, especially for younger children. Keeping screen time under control could help protect important brain skills that children need for school and learning.
As kids grow up in a digital world, understanding how technology affects their brains is more important than ever. This study is a strong reminder that not all screen time is the same — and some of it might be doing more harm than good.
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The full study is published in *JAMA*.
https://knowridge.com/2025/10/too-much-social-media-may-hurt-kids-thinking-and-memory-skills/