Our ability to concentrate is perhaps the most underrated skill today. Concentration is crucial in learning, remembering, and productivity. In fact, people who master certain skills and projects usually possess an innate ability to focus extremely well in the required areas. So, when a major new study warns that heavy social media use is strongly linked to worsening attention and inattention symptoms, society should take heed.
Researchers from the Karolinska Institute (Sweden) and Oregon Health & Science University followed 8,324 children aged 9–10 in the U.S. for four years, tracking their screen time and ADHD symptoms.
Key results:
- Children’s daily social media use rose from an average of 30 minutes to 2.5 hours over four years, and inattention symptoms increased in parallel.
- There was a clear, significant link between time spent on social media (Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, Facebook, etc.) and developing inattention problems, but no such clear link for TV or video games.
- Increased social media use did not predict more hyperactivity/impulsivity, only inattention, suggesting it specifically erodes focus, not overall ADHD severity.
For the aforementioned reasons and others, it should come as no surprise that just last week, Australia implemented a world-first national law that effectively bans children under 16 from having accounts on major social media platforms, with the rules now in force and already being enforced against platforms and users.
It appears kids are becoming so used to the instant gratification of social media, such as short videos, memes, and 24/7 juicy stories, they are inherently becoming more easily distracted in their day-to-day routines. As a result, the study warns that it’s impacting their ability to focus on projects and tasks where the reward isn’t instant and/or has to be worked for. For instance, there’s no instant gratification for daily studying, as good grades are rewarded after an exam or at the end of a semester.
Attention span is directly tied to finishing what is started: those who can maintain focus longer typically complete tasks more efficiently and with better outcomes. In contrast, frequent distractions and task‑switching lead to procrastination, missed details, and a sense of mental fatigue that undermines follow‑through.
Why is social media singled out
In the study, children’s time spent on social media increased by 8 times (from approximately 30 minutes to 2.5 hours per day) during the 4-year study period, and also their inattention symptoms also increased as well.
“Our study suggests that it is specifically social media that affects children’s ability to concentrate,” warned Torkel Klingberg, coauthor and Karolinska Institutet professor of cognitive neuroscience.
As with all studies, researchers can only assume that there was a cause-and-effect relationship between the increase in social media usage and the increase in inattention symptoms; however, as researchers noted, children who were identified as having pre-existing symptoms of ADHD did not experience an increase in social media usage at any point throughout the duration of the study, which suggests that excessive use of social media may contribute to inattentive behaviors in children rather than the opposite.
He explained that social media delivers constant, unpredictable distractions (messages, notifications, and infinite scroll) that train the brain to expect interruption, making sustained focus harder. The mere anticipation of a new message can act as a mental distraction, degrading attention over time.
Perhaps a result of this trend is that the number of children in the U.S. being diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is increasing. In 2024, a study reported that 1 in 9 children in the United States is now living with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the condition represents an “expanding public health concern.”
What experts and headlines are saying
Media coverage has used strong language like “social media is absolutely nuking children’s brains” to highlight how the constant sensory assault from TikTok, Snapchat, and similar platforms may be “robbing kids of the ability to focus.” The study’s first author, Samson Nivins, said the goal is to help parents and policymakers make informed decisions about healthy digital habits that support children’s cognitive development.
Separate research also warns that heavy social media use in kids is associated with lower scores on memory and vocabulary tests, more anxiety, sleep problems, and addictive behaviors, reinforcing concerns about its impact.
Why aren’t adults being singled out?
High and especially compulsive social media use is linked to reduced sustained attention in adults, but children and adolescents appear more vulnerable because their brains and habits are still being shaped.
