Social media use tied to more attention issues in kids, study finds

Technology Dec 11, 2025

A new study says kids who spend more time on social media—think Instagram and TikTok—are showing more signs of inattention, a key ADHD symptom.
Researchers followed 8,000 children aged 9-14 for four years and noticed that as social media use went up, so did attention problems.

What else did they find?

On average, daily social media use jumped from 30 minutes at age nine to about 2.5 hours by age 13. Interestingly, TV and video games didn't show the same effect.
Professor Torkel Klingberg pointed out that constant notifications might be distracting young minds.
Study author Samson Nivins hopes parents and policymakers help kids build healthier digital habits to support their focus and growth.