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Social Media Linked to Attention Problems in Children

Is social media damaging the ability of children to focus, or is it an essential, if flawed, tool for their development?

Published 4 days ago

Social Media Linked to Attention Problems in Children

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Above: A photo illustration of a child holding a smartphone displaying the Snapchat logo in Sydney, Australia, on Dec. 3, 2025. Image credit: Brent Lewin/Bloomberg/Getty Images

The Spin

Techno-skeptic narrative

Social media, with its endless notifications and constant distractions, is directly destroying children’s collective ability to focus. Unlike other forms of digital media, such as video games or television, this wholly negative effect is limited solely to this medium. It is essential, therefore, that proper regulations are put in place to protect children before it is too late.

Futurism

Techno-optimist narrative

While social media has its downsides, it also provides essential benefits for young people, particularly marginalized youth, who find connections and community that would otherwise be unavailable offline. Meanwhile, the negatives associated with social media vary widely across individuals and are not a universal harm experienced by all children.

NCBI