Snapshot 5:Tue, Dec 9, 2025 4:41:28 PM GMT last edited by Edward

Social Media Linked to Attention Problems in Children

Published 5 days ago

story

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 via Getty Images

The Spin

Social media is directly destroying kids' ability to focus, with childrenits nowendless spendingnotifications 2.5and hoursconstant dailydistractions, onis platformsdirectly thatdestroying bombardchildren’s themcollective withability constantto distractionsfocus. andUnlike notifications.other Researchforms trackingof overdigital 8media,000 childrensuch foras fourvideo yearsgames provesor thattelevision, socialthis mediawholly specificallynegative causeseffect attentionis deficits,limited notsolely TVto orthis video gamesmedium. ThisIt digital assault is fuelingessential, thetherefore, explosionthat inproper attentionregulations disorders,are whichput jumpedin byplace overto aprotect millionchildren casesbefore init justis sixtoo yearslate.

Futurism

SocialWhile social media delivershas crucialits downsides, it also provides essential benefits for young people by providing supportive communities, especiallyparticularly for marginalized youth, who find identity-affirmingconnections content and peercommunity connectionsthat would otherwise be unavailable offline. MostMeanwhile, teensthe reportnegatives feelingassociated more accepted and connected through these platforms, with sevensocial inmedia tenvary girlswidely ofacross colorindividuals encounteringand positiveare racialnot content.a Brainuniversal developmentharm researchexperienced showsby variedall impacts across individuals, not universal harmchildren.