Social Media Is Absolutely Nuking Children's Brains, New Research Finds

"A barrage of AI-generated brain rot is haunting children across numerous screens, from personal smartphones to school-issued laptops to televisions. Social media is adding significantly to that cacophony, making it harder than ever for kids to concentrate. Now, new research from the Karolinska Institute in Sweden and Oregon Health & Science University has found a significant link between screen time and diagnoses of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), suggesting that exposing young brains to social media could have major mental health implications."

"As detailed in a new paper published in the journal Pediatrics Open Science, the researchers followed 8,324 children aged nine to ten years old in the US for four years. The children self-reported how much time they spent on social media, watching TV, or playing video games. Their parents also assessed their ability to pay attention and any signs of hyperactivity."

"The researchers found that over the four years, children went from spending an average of 30 minutes a day to 2.5 hours a day on social media. Meanwhile, inattention symptoms also increased. "Social media entails constant distractions in the form of messages and notifications, and the mere thought of whether a message has arrived can act as a mental distraction," Klingberg added. "This affects the ability to stay focused and could explain the association.""

Researchers followed 8,324 US children aged nine to ten for four years, recording self-reported time on social media, television, and video games and parent-rated attention and hyperactivity. Average daily social media use rose from about 30 minutes to 2.5 hours over the period. Inattention symptoms increased alongside the rise in social media exposure. A significant association emerged between social media use and attention deficits and ADHD diagnoses, while television and video game use showed no clear association with those symptoms. Notifications and constant online distractions are proposed mechanisms by which social media may impair the ability to sustain focus and affect mental health.

Read at Futurism