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Problematic Social Media Use Trajectories Are Linked With Lower Cognitive Performance in Adolescents
Jason M Nagata1, Jennifer H Wong1, Sian Hong1
1Division of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California.
American Journal of Preventive Medicine
|July 15, 2026
Summary
Increasing problematic social media use (PSMU) in adolescents is linked to poorer cognitive skills. This study highlights the need for interventions to support healthy development during this critical period.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Adolescent Health
Background:
- Adolescence is a crucial developmental stage for cognitive and behavioral changes.
- Problematic social media use (PSMU) may significantly influence cognitive development during adolescence.
- Understanding the relationship between PSMU and cognition is vital for adolescent well-being.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the associations between different trajectories of problematic social media use (PSMU) and cognitive performance in adolescents.
- To identify specific patterns of PSMU over time and their impact on cognitive domains.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal analysis of 4,809 adolescents (aged 10-16) from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study.
- Group-based trajectory modeling to identify PSMU patterns.
- Cognitive assessment using the NIH Toolbox Cognition Battery at Year 4.
Main Results:
- Three PSMU trajectories were identified: no/low increasing, low-to-moderate, and moderate-to-high.
- Adolescents in the low-to-moderate and moderate-to-high PSMU trajectories showed significantly lower scores in memory and language tasks compared to the no/low increasing group.
- The moderate-to-high PSMU trajectory was associated with the most pronounced deficits in memory and vocabulary.
Conclusions:
- Increasing problematic social media use trajectories are associated with diminished cognitive performance in memory and language.
- These findings underscore the importance of addressing PSMU to support healthy cognitive development in adolescents.
- Developing targeted interventions for PSMU is crucial for mitigating negative impacts on adolescent cognition.
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