Children using social media at a younger age and school tests
Children using social media at younger age appear to do worse in school tests
- Level
- B1
- Estimated time
- 30–40 minutes
- Reading
- 1 min read
The story
A new study suggests children who use social media at a younger age do worse in school tests. Pupils who opened their first social media account at 11 or 12 were found to score lower in maths and reading tests than those who waited until they were older. The gap was measured as about six months of learning.
Researchers analysed surveys from more than 5,000 Italian schoolchildren and their results in standardised maths, Italian and English exams. When students were tested at age 13 to 14, the early account group scored worse than the later group. At age 15 to 16 the gap stayed the same for Italian and became larger for maths. There was no clear impact on English, which may be because social media gives students extra practice in that language.
The work does not prove social media caused the lower scores because researchers controlled for other factors such as earlier school performance, family structure and parents’ education. One of the best predictors of the gap was how often children picked up their phones during the day and at night. Dr Marco Gui said, "I think we now know there is a problem." Gui also said the platforms needed to be made less addictive.
The researchers published their work in Nature Human Behaviour. Gui supports an age limit but warned a ban should be an emergency policy while companies change features. The study adds to a wider discussion about rules and how families can help young people use social media in healthy ways. Australia introduced a ban last year and the UK is considering one.
Key vocabulary
- social media
- Websites and apps for sharing messages and posts
- account
- A personal profile on a social media site
- pupils
- School students
- scored
- Got a result in a test or exam
- maths
- Short for mathematics, a school subject about numbers
- reading
- Understanding written text, here a school test subject
- phones
- Mobile devices used to call, message and go online
- ban
- An official rule that stops something
Comprehension check
Write your answer, reveal the model answer, then score yourself honestly.
1. At what ages did some pupils open their first social media account?
2. Which two school subjects showed lower scores for early account users?
3. How many Italian schoolchildren did the researchers study?
4. What behaviour was one of the best predictors of the score gap?
5. Which country had already introduced a ban last year?
Grammar focus
Passive voice
The passive voice puts the focus on an action or result rather than who did it. It is used often in reports and studies to show findings.
- Pupils who opened their first social media account at 11 or 12 were found to score lower in maths and reading tests than those who waited until they were older.
- The gap was measured as about six months of learning.
Grammar exercise
Complete the gaps with the correct passive form of the verb in brackets.
1. This year, many accounts (open) ______ by young pupils.
2. So far, the gap (measure) ______ as about six months.
3. In the study, students (test) ______ at ages 13 and 15.
4. Already, surveys (analyse) ______ by researchers.
5. Last year, a ban (introduce) ______ in Australia.
Discussion
For reflection or speaking practice — not graded.
- Do you think social media helps or harms learning? Why?
- What rules would you suggest for children using phones and social media?
- How can teachers support students who use social media a lot?
- Should social media companies change features to help young users? Why or why not?