A long-term study tracking more than eight thousand US children has added weight to a growing concern among parents and clinicians: social media is chipping away at kids’ ability to concentrate. The researchers followed participants from age ten to fourteen and found a clear link between time spent on social platforms and rising inattention symptoms. What stood out is that gaming and watching TV or online videos didn’t show this effect. It was social media alone that consistently predicted trouble focusing, forgetting routine tasks, and other traits associated with ADHD.

Here’s the thing. Social media isn’t just another screen. It’s a constant stream of alerts, messages, and the nagging worry about whether you’ve missed something. According to the team, that’s exactly what pulls children out of sustained focus and trains their brains to expect interruption. The study’s lead scientists describe the effect as small at an individual level but potentially huge once you scale it to millions of kids. ADHD diagnoses in the US have already risen over the past two decades, and the researchers argue that heavier social media use could be part of the reason.

They’re careful not to claim every child on Instagram or TikTok will develop concentration issues, but the pattern is strong enough to raise flags. Kids are starting social media earlier, spending more time on it, and often entering these platforms before the minimum age. The authors say all of this points toward the need for better age checks, clearer rules for tech companies, and guidance that helps families set healthier boundaries. Their hope is simple: give parents and policymakers enough evidence to protect children’s cognitive development before the problem grows larger.