Social Media Might Stunt Students' Intellect, Study Says

Key Takeaways

Social media might be stunting children’s brain power

9- to 13-year-olds who spent more time on social media performed worse on tests of reading, memory and language

The results support phone bans at schools, researchers said

TUESDAY, Oct. 14, 2025 (HealthDay News) — Social media could be costing your tween some of their brain power, a new study says.

Children between 9 and 13 years of age who spent more time on social media performed worse on tests of reading, memory and language two years later, researchers reported today in the Journal of the American Medical Association .

“This study found that even low levels of social media use were associated with poorer cognitive outcomes,” said lead researcher Dr. Jason Nagata , an associate professor of pediatrics at the