Problematic Social Media Use Trajectories Are Linked With Lower Cognitive Performance in Adolescents

Adolescence is a critical period of ongoing cognitive and behavioral development. Problematic social media use is a potentially important factor that shapes cognitive development during this period. This study examined the associations between problematic social media use trajectories and cognitive performance.

A total of 4,809 adolescents (mean age = 12 years, 48.9% female, 73.6% White) from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study were assessed from Year 2 (2018-2020) to Year 4 (2020-2022). Group-based trajectory modeling estimated patterns of problematic social media use in adolescents aged 10-16 years. Cognition was assessed at Year 4 (aged 12-16 years) using 5 of the 7 subtests of the NIH Toolbox Cognition Battery. Multiple linear regression models estimated the associations between problematic social media use trajectories and cognitive performance, adjusting for demographics, cognitive scores, mental health symptoms, and study site.

Three problematic social media use trajectories were identified: no/low increasing, low-to-moderate, and moderate-to-high trajectories. Adolescents in the low-to-moderate trajectory demonstrated lower scores on the Picture Sequence Memory Test (β [standardized beta]= -0.10, 95% CI= -0.16, -0.03, p=0.003) and Picture Vocabulary Test (β= -0.11, 95% CI= -0.16, -0.07, p<0.001) than those in the no/low increasing trajectory. Adolescents in the moderate-to-high trajectory demonstrated lower scores on the Picture Sequence Memory Test (β= -0.24, 95% CI= -0.35, -0.13, p<0.001) and Picture Vocabulary Test (β= -0.17, 95% CI= -0.25, -0.09, p<0.001).

Increasing trajectories of problematic social media use were associated with lower cognitive performance in the memory and language domains, highlighting the importance of developing effective interventions to address problematic social media use behaviors and support cognitive development.