Study links social media use to poor focus, rising ADHD symptoms in children - Video

Social media may be keeping kids connected-but it could also be rewiring how their brains pay attention. A new study by researchers at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden and Oregon Health & Science University suggests that heavy social media use is linked to growing symptoms of inattention among children, possibly mimicking traits of ADHD. The study tracked over 8,000 young people for four years and found a clear pattern: the more time kids spent scrolling, the harder it became for them to focus.

The research used data from the Adolescent Brain and Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study, one of the largest ongoing neuroscience projects in the world. It followed 8,324 children-53% of them boys-starting around age 10 and continuing until age 14. Each year, the children completed the Youth Screen Time Survey, reporting how much time they spent on social media apps, video games, and TV. Researchers then assessed these habits alongside attention-related behaviors over time.

The findings painted a worrying picture. Kids who used platforms like Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, or Facebook the most showed increasing attention problems each year. In contrast, time spent watching television or playing video games did not show the same effect. According to lead author Professor Torkel Klingberg, the difference stems from how social media constantly demands attention. “Notifications, messages, and the anticipation of a reply act like mental interruptions,” he explained. “Even thinking about whether a message has arrived can distract the mind from focusing.”

The study found that average daily social media use jumped from about 30 minutes among nine-year-olds to nearly 2.5 hours by age 13—well before the legal minimum age set by most platforms. Over those years, measurable inattention symptoms increased, revealing a gradual but consistent association between frequent online engagement and reduced focus.

While the study stops short of proving cause and effect, it highlights a crucial takeaway: the developing adolescent brain may be especially vulnerable to social media’s nonstop reward loop. Experts recommend close parental supervision, screen-free routines, and helping kids build sustained attention through real-world interactions and outdoor play.

REFERENCE: Samson Nivins, Michael A. Mooney, Joel Nigg, Torkel Klingberg; Digital Media, Genetics and Risk for ADHD Symptoms in Children – A Longitudinal Study . Pediatrics Open Science 2025; https://doi.org/10.1542/pedsos.2025-000922