More and more time spent on social media, more and more difficulty in staying focused. This is the relationship emerging from recent international research that has shone a new spotlight on children and preteens, suggesting a link between intensive use of social platforms and an increase in symptoms attributable toADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), a neurodevelopmental condition that affects the ability to maintain attention, control impulses and regulate activity.
The study followed thousands of school-age children for several years, observing how their behaviors changed in relation to digital habits. The striking finding is not so much occasional use of social media, but continuous and prolonged use: the more hours spent each day on feeds, notifications and short videos, the greater the likelihood of developing inattention problems over time.
Attention challenged by endless scrolling
According to researchers, the point is not the technology itself, but the way social trains the brain. Lightning-fast content, constantly changing stimuli, immediate gratification-a mix that accustoms attention to functioning in fragments. The result is greater difficulty in sustaining long, repetitive or less immediately stimulating activities, such as studying or reading.
Not surprisingly, the same problem does not emerge as strongly for other digital media such as traditional television or video games, which follow different rhythms and require more structured forms of attention.
Warning: this is not an automatic conviction
A key point of the study is that there is no mention of a direct cause. Social use does not “create” ADHD. Rather, it may accentuate or make more apparent traits of inattention that are already present. There is also the reverse hypothesis: kids with more difficulty concentrating might be naturally more attracted to platforms that offer rapid and continuous stimulation.
In other words, the relationship is complex and probably bidirectional. But the signal is clear: certain digital habits can become a risk factor for attentional balance.
For parents and schools, the message is pragmatic, not alarmist. It is not about demonizing social media, but about governing its use. Screen-free times, real breaks, physical activities, reading and unstructured play remain key tools to help younger brains develop attention and self-control.
Technology is part of daily life and will not disappear. But like any powerful environment, it must be inhabited with clear rules. Because attention, today more than ever, is a fragile resource. And wasting it is a luxury that kids cannot afford.
