Study: Early Social Media Use Hurts Kids' Math Scores
Is early social media use proven to tank teens' grades or is the research too flawed to justify sweeping restrictions?
Above: Two teenagers look into their phones in Cornwall, England, on June 1. Image credit: Anna Barclay/Getty Images
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
Early social media use is actively dragging down children's academic performance, and the data backs it up. Kids who create accounts earlier score worse in math and Italian, and the earlier they start, the worse their scores get. Delaying social media access is the obvious, evidence-backed move to protect kids' futures.
Establishment-critical narrative
The research has real methodological holes that make sweeping conclusions premature. It's an observational study, not a randomized experiment, meaning causation hasn't been proven — and statistical corrections could wipe out some of its headline findings entirely. Policymakers shouldn't rush to ban platforms based on this.