Story perspectives

Study Links Social Media Use to Kids' Learning Decline

10/15/2025

Summary

Story summary

A Jama study warns parents that social media harms pre-teens' cognitive abilities.
Researchers find that 9–13-year-olds spending one hour daily on TikTok or Instagram score one to two points lower on reading and memory tests.
Those using social media more extensively see a four- to five-point drop in scores.
California has mandated warning labels on social media for children, and Arkansas introduced Bell to Bell, No Cell Act to limit classroom phone use.

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Story summary

A Jama study warns parents that social media harms pre-teens' cognitive abilities.
Researchers find that 9–13-year-olds spending one hour daily on TikTok or Instagram score one to two points lower on reading and memory tests.
Those using social media more extensively see a four- to five-point drop in scores.
California has mandated warning labels on social media for children, and Arkansas introduced Bell to Bell, No Cell Act to limit classroom phone use.