Teenagers who struggle to control their social media use may be more likely to develop symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), according to a new study published in JAMA Network Open.
The study found that unhealthy social media habits, not simply the amount of time spent online, were linked to a rise in attention problems, impulsive behaviour, and hyperactivity over time. The association was stronger in boys than in girls.
Researchers followed 11,286 children and teenagers in the United States over five years as part of the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study, one of the largest long-term studies on children’s brain development.
The participants were around 12 years old when the study began. Every year, they answered questions about their social media habits, while their parents reported on symptoms related to ADHD.
Instead of measuring screen time alone, the researchers looked at problematic social media use. This refers to using social media in ways that are difficult to control.
Young people were asked whether they constantly thought about social media, felt they needed to use it more often, found it hard to stop, became upset when they could not use it, or experienced problems at school or home because of their social media use.
The researchers found that when teenagers reported more problematic social media use than usual in one year, they were more likely to show increased ADHD symptoms the following year.
These symptoms included difficulty paying attention, acting without thinking, and being overly active or restless.
The study also found some evidence that children with ADHD symptoms were slightly more likely to develop problematic social media habits later on. However, this link was much weaker than the effect of problematic social media use on later ADHD symptoms.
The strongest association was seen among boys. The researchers found that the increase in ADHD symptoms following problematic social media use was significant in male participants but not in females.
The authors say the findings suggest that healthcare providers should pay attention to unhealthy patterns of social media use, especially among young people who already have attention difficulties.
“The findings suggest that assessment of social media use among youths with ADHD should prioritise problematic patterns and consider sex-specific risk,” according to the researchers.
Although the study found a clear link, the researchers stressed that the effects were relatively small. They also noted that the findings do not prove that social media directly causes ADHD. Instead, the results show that unhealthy social media habits may contribute to worsening attention problems over time.
Throughout the study, most teenagers did not show signs of problematic social media use. Even so, those who did experience increases in compulsive or difficult-to-control use were more likely to report worsening ADHD symptoms during adolescence.
The researchers say parents should look beyond the number of hours their children spend online. Instead, they should watch for warning signs such as constantly thinking about social media, repeatedly failing to reduce its use, feeling anxious when unable to check social media, or allowing it to interfere with school, sleep, or family life.
The researchers say more studies are needed to understand why problematic social media use appears to affect attention and behaviour, and whether reducing unhealthy social media habits could help improve ADHD symptoms.
As social media continues to play a major role in young people’s lives, the findings suggest that teaching children healthy digital habits may be just as important as limiting the amount of time they spend online.
