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A four-year longitudinal study distinguishes social media from video games, identifying specific risks for developing brains.
STOCKHOLM — For years, parents and policymakers have debated the impact of “screen time” on children’s developing minds. A groundbreaking new study released this week offers a crucial distinction: it is not screens themselves, but specifically the notification-driven environment of social media that may be eroding children’s ability to concentrate.
The research, published Monday in Pediatrics Open Science, followed over 8,300 American children for four years. It found that while video games and television had no negative impact on attention spans, higher social media use was directly linked to a decline in the ability to focus—potentially pushing more children toward an Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) diagnosis.
The Findings: A “Dose-Response” Relationship
Conducted by researchers at Sweden’s Karolinska Institutet and Oregon Health & Science University in the U.S., the study utilized data from the massive Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study. Researchers tracked children from ages 9-10 to 14, a critical window for brain development.
The results revealed a clear “dose-response” pattern: children who spent more time on platforms like Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and Facebook saw a measurable increase in symptoms of inattention.
“We identified an association between social media use and increased inattention symptoms, interpreted here as a likely causal effect,” said Dr. Torkel Klingberg, professor of cognitive neuroscience at Karolinska Institutet and the study’s senior author.
Crucially, the study controlled for genetic predisposition to ADHD and socioeconomic status, two factors that often skew results in behavioral research. The researchers also ruled out reverse causality; children who were already inattentive did not start using social media more, suggesting that the app usage is driving the symptoms, not the other way around.
The Mechanism: The “Mental Distraction” of Anticipation
Why does social media hurt focus when video games—which are often just as stimulating—do not? The researchers point to the fundamental design of the platforms.
Video games typically require sustained, unbroken focus on a single task. In contrast, social media is built on interruption.
“Social media entails constant distractions in the form of messages and notifications,” Klingberg explained. “The mere thought of whether a message has arrived can act as a mental distraction. This affects the ability to stay focused and could explain the association.”
This state of “continuous partial attention” prevents the brain from engaging in deep focus, potentially retraining neural pathways to seek constant, rapid-fire shifts in attention.
A Population-Level Concern
While the researchers noted that the effect size for any single child is “small,” the implications for public health are significant.
“Although the effect size is small at an individual level, it could have significant consequences if behavior changes occur at the population level,” the authors wrote.
The study estimates that even a modest rise in inattention symptoms across the entire population could increase the prevalence of borderline ADHD cases. Currently, ADHD diagnoses have been rising globally, and this research suggests the explosion of social media use—which increased from an average of 30 minutes a day at age 9 to 2.5 hours a day by age 13 in the study cohort—could be a contributing factor.
Expert Perspectives
Dr. Jenny Radesky, a developmental behavioral pediatrician and co-medical director of the American Academy of Pediatrics’ (AAP) Center of Excellence on Social Media and Youth Mental Health, who was not involved in this specific study, has long warned about the “engagement-prolonging design” of modern apps.
Radesky notes that these platforms are often engineered to override a child’s natural “stopping cues.” When a child’s brain is constantly trained to expect a reward (a like, a notification) on a variable schedule, it can interfere with the development of “effortful control”—the ability to delay gratification and stick to a less exciting task, like homework.
Similarly, Dr. Michael Rich, director of the Digital Wellness Lab at Boston Children’s Hospital, argues that we must look beyond “addiction” and consider “displacement.” When a child spends three hours on social media, they are not just exposing their brain to notifications; they are displacing three hours of sleep, physical play, or face-to-face interaction—activities essential for cognitive maintenance.
Limitations and Counterpoints
It is important to note that the study relied on self-reported usage data from the children, which can be subject to error, though the large sample size helps mitigate this. Additionally, while the study found a link to inattention, it did not find a similar increase in hyperactivity or impulsivity, the other two core components of ADHD.
Some experts also caution against panic. Not every child with a smartphone will develop ADHD. The effect acts more like a risk factor—similar to high blood pressure for heart disease—rather than a guaranteed outcome.
Practical Implications for Families
For parents, this study offers actionable intelligence. The “all screens are bad” approach may be outdated. Instead, the focus should shift to how screens are used.
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Differentiate Content: A child playing Minecraft or watching a movie is engaging differently than a child doom-scrolling TikTok. The latter poses the higher risk to attention.
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Delay Access: The study highlighted a sharp usage spike between ages 9 and 13. Delaying access to social media until the brain is more mature (closer to age 14-16) may offer a protective benefit.
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Turn Off Notifications: To combat the “anticipation” effect, experts recommend disabling all non-essential notifications to reduce the mental load of constantly checking the device.
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Create “Phone-Free” Zones: Establishing times (like dinner) and places (like bedrooms) where devices are strictly prohibited can help reset the brain’s attention span.
As Dr. Samson Nivins, the study’s lead author, stated, the goal is not to ban technology but to foster “healthy digital consumption that supports children’s cognitive development.”
Medical Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult with qualified healthcare professionals before making any health-related decisions or changes to your treatment plan. The information presented here is based on current research and expert opinions, which may evolve as new evidence emerges.
References
Study Citation:
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Nivins, S., Klingberg, T., et al. (2025). “Digital Media, Genetics and Risk for ADHD Symptoms in Children – A Longitudinal Study.” Pediatrics Open Science. DOI: 10.1542/pedsos.2025-000922.
