Story perspectives

Study Links Social Media Use to Declining Child Concentration

12/8/2025

Summary

Story summary

A study from Sweden's Karolinska Institute links increased social media use by children to declining concentration and potentially rising ADHD diagnoses.
Researchers studied over 8,300 U.S. children aged 9 to 14.
Social media use grew from 30 minutes to 2.5 hours daily, unlike TV or video games.
The authors call for stricter age verification and guidelines for tech companies to protect cognitive development, with findings in Pediatrics Open Science.

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Story summary

A study from Sweden's Karolinska Institute links increased social media use by children to declining concentration and potentially rising ADHD diagnoses.
Researchers studied over 8,300 U.S. children aged 9 to 14.
Social media use grew from 30 minutes to 2.5 hours daily, unlike TV or video games.
The authors call for stricter age verification and guidelines for tech companies to protect cognitive development, with findings in Pediatrics Open Science.