Children Using Social Media at Younger Age Appear to Do Worse in School Tests
Researchers found that students who opened social media accounts in 6th or 7th grade later scored worse in math and Italian, with effects equal to about six months of learning.
- On Monday, Nature Human Behaviour published a study by Marco Gui et al. analyzing over 5,000 students in Lombardy, Italy, linking early social media account creation to worse standardized school performance.
- Students who opened accounts in 6th or 7th grade experienced significant score drops compared to peers waiting until 9th grade, with early adopters losing six months of math learning by 10th grade.
- Distraction during homework, bedtime, and school hours drives this decline, Dr. Poppy Gibson of The Open University said, while Dr. Eoin Whelan of the University of Galway identified the "child's inability to control their use" as a primary factor.
- Experts urge caution given the observational nature of the research; Prof. Kevin McConway of The Open University praised authors for advising that "findings should be interpreted cautiously" due to reliance on student memory.
- The evidence suggests a complex issue requiring digital literacy training rather than simple bans, as educators emphasize preparing teenagers to "live in a society shaped by technology" through ethical and responsible use.
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33 Articles
Children using social media at younger age appear to do worse in school tests
A study of over 5,000 Italian schoolchildren has found a notable association between early social media adoption and lower academic performance on standardized assessments. Researchers discovered that pupils who opened their first social media account at ages 11 to 12 scored lower in mathematics and reading tests compared to those who waited until at least age 14. When tested at ages 15 to 16, the performance differential remained consistent for…
The use of social media in adolescence could affect school performance: according to a study published in Nature Human Behaviour and conducted in 5. (ANSA)
A study shows that early use of social media such as TikTok and Instagram is associated with lower grades.
A minimum age for social media is currently being discussed worldwide. Researchers have now asked 5000 students when they had their first social media account and investigated the effect on their learning performance.
Videos look at the homework, writing with friends in the evening, instead of sleeping: Social media determines the everyday life of many children and teenagers. This has an impact on the grades.
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