Full Breakdown
Early Social Media Use Linked to Lower Test Scores in Italy; Australia’s Under-16 Ban Struggles to Curb Teens’ Access
8/5/2026, 10:18:55 PM
Study Findings on Academic Performance
A longitudinal analysis of 5,227 students from 28 northern-Italian schools tracked social-media adoption and standardized test results in Italian, mathematics and English. Adolescents who opened their first personal social-media account in sixth grade (ages 11-12) scored ?0.22 SD lower in Italian and ?0.18 SD lower in mathematics by eighth grade than peers who waited until ninth grade or later. By tenth grade the Italian gap remained at 0.22 SD, while the mathematics gap widened to 0.27 SD. Researchers note that a 0.2-SD difference is roughly equivalent to six months of schooling.
A dose-response pattern emerged: students who delayed until seventh or eighth grade still lagged, but the gaps were smaller. No measurable impact was observed for English scores; the authors suggest exposure to English content on platforms may have offset any negative effect. Frequent phone checking correlated with earlier social-media use and lower academic outcomes.
Researchers’ Interpretation
Corresponding author Chiara Respi (University of Milano-Bicocca) argues that postponing social-media access until ages 13-14 may protect academic performance and that any age limit should be paired with a comprehensive digital-education program for families and schools.
Respi recommends parents teach children about the distracting nature of social media, encourage screen-free periods for homework, and promote face-to-face interaction.
Policy Context and the Australian Ban
In December 2025, Australia enacted a ban on social-media use for children under 16 (effective December 10 2025). The law obliges the ten largest platforms to implement “reasonable steps” for age verification, with fines of up to AU$33 million for non-compliance.
Outcomes of the Australian Ban
A study by the eSafety regulator found that more than eight in ten Australian teens continued to use social media three months after the ban took effect. Usage among 10- to 15-year-olds in March was as frequent as before the ban. Approximately half of the children reported that platforms failed to check their age, allowing them to retain or create new accounts. As of January 16, regulators revoked about 4.7 million accounts identified as belonging to minors, yet daily usage fell only from roughly 60 % to 58 %.
Enforcement challenges were highlighted when Reddit filed a High Court challenge shortly after the law’s commencement, while still claiming compliance.
Expert Commentary
Marco Gui, first author of the Italian study, supports age limits but warns that bans are “emergency policies” and that platform design must become less addictive. Dennis Ougrin, professor of child and adolescent psychiatry at Queen Mary University of London, says the findings add to evidence linking early social-media exposure to educational outcomes, but advises against outright bans, urging promotion of healthy digital habits.
Limitations and Remaining Gaps
The Italian research establishes an association, not causation, between early social-media adoption and lower test scores. Adjustments were made for prior achievement, family structure and parental education, yet unmeasured variables may still influence results. The lack of impact on English scores remains unexplained, and the study does not address outcomes beyond age 16.
What’s Next
Policymakers in the United Kingdom, Denmark, Malaysia and Greece are contemplating similar age-based restrictions, indicating a global shift toward regulatory responses. The Australian experience underscores the need for effective age-verification technologies and digital-literacy initiatives to complement any legal limits. Researchers and educators continue to call for longitudinal studies that can disentangle causal pathways and inform balanced interventions.
