Marco Gui finds that children who open social media accounts at ages 11 to 12 perform worse academically than those who wait.
A study led by Marco Gui at the University of Milano-Bicocca reveals that children who begin using social media between the ages of 11 and 12 experience a significant decline in academic performance compared to those who delay adoption. Analyzing over 5,000 Italian students, the research found that early adopters scored lower in mathematics and Italian exams by the equivalent of six months of schooling. The performance gap in mathematics widened as students aged, while English scores remained stable, likely due to the frequent use of English-language content online. Researchers suggest that the constant need to check updates on smartphones creates a state of alert that can disrupt concentration and displace time spent on homework. While the study does not definitively prove social media is the sole culprit, it highlights the cumulative impact of early exposure. The findings come as several countries, including Australia and the United Kingdom, consider or implement age-based social media bans to help children develop healthier digital habits.