Social Media Use Over 30 Minutes May Weaken Children’s Concentration, Study Finds

Children who spend more than 30 minutes a day on social media platforms such as Instagram, Snapchat and Facebook may experience a gradual decline in their ability to concentrate, according to a major international study.

Researchers from Karolinska Institutet in Sweden and Oregon Health & Science University in the United States examined screen habits and symptoms commonly associated with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Their study tracked 8,324 children aged between 9 and 14 over four years.

The findings show that children’s time on social media increased significantly with age, rising from around 30 minutes a day among 9-year-olds to approximately 2.5 hours among 13-year-olds.

This surge occurred although many popular platforms officially restrict use to those aged 13 and above.

Children who spent substantial time on Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, Facebook, X or Messenger gradually developed symptoms of inattention.

The study did not identify similar effects among children who watched television or played video games.

‘Constant Distractions’ Undermine Focus

Professor Torkel Klingberg, a cognitive neuroscience expert at Karolinska Institutet, said the results point specifically to the distracting nature of social media.

“Our study suggests that it is specifically social media that affects children’s ability to concentrate,” he explained. “Social media entails constant distractions in the form of messages and notifications, and even the thought of whether a message has arrived can disrupt mental focus.”

The researchers noted that socioeconomic background and genetic predisposition to ADHD did not influence the association.

Furthermore, children who already showed signs of inattentiveness did not increase their use of social media, suggesting the relationship runs from usage to symptoms, rather than the reverse.

While the impact on an individual child may be modest, the researchers warned that the combined effect at a population level could be considerable.

Notably, the study did not find any increase in hyperactive or impulsive behaviour. The findings were published in Paediatrics Open Science.

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