Children, Social Media and School Performance
Children using social media at younger age appear to do worse in school tests
- Level
- B2
- Estimated time
- 30–40 minutes
- Reading
- 1 min read
The story
A new study found that pupils who opened their first social media account at 11 to 12 years old tended to do worse in school tests than those who waited. These early users scored lower in mathematics and reading tests, and by age 16 the difference was about six months of learning. Researchers looked at more than 5,000 Italian schoolchildren and took account of earlier school performance, family structure and parents’ education.
When tested at 13 to 14, those who opened accounts at 11 or 12 scored worse than pupils who delayed until at least 14. At 15 to 16 the gap stayed the same for reading and became larger for mathematics. There was no clear effect on English, perhaps because students already encounter English on many platforms. One strong predictor of the gap was how often children picked up their phones during day and night.
Researchers wish children had waited to open social media accounts. Gui, the lead author, says the platforms make constant checking tempting and distract pupils from homework. If only pupils had checked their phones less, they might have scored higher, the team suggests. Gui favours an age limit but calls a ban an emergency policy.
The study comes as the UK prepares to introduce a social media ban for under-16s and after Australia introduced one. The authors say more work is needed to make platforms safer and to help young people form healthy habits.
Key vocabulary
- social media
- Online platforms where people share messages, photos or videos.
- account
- A user profile created to use a social media service.
- mathematics
- The school subject about numbers and calculations.
- reading
- The school activity or test focused on understanding text.
- scored
- Got a particular number of points in a test.
- phones
- Mobile devices that children use to access social media.
- researchers
- People who study data and do scientific work.
- ban
- An official rule that stops something from happening.
Comprehension check
Write your answer, reveal the model answer, then score yourself honestly.
1. At what ages did pupils open accounts and show worse test results?
2. Which school subjects did early users score lower in?
3. How many children did the researchers study?
4. What behaviour was a strong predictor of the performance gap?
5. Which countries are mentioned in relation to social media bans?
Grammar focus
Wish / if only
Use 'wish' or 'if only' plus the past perfect to express regret about past events. This form talks about things people would like to have been different in the past.
- Researchers wish children had waited to open social media accounts.
- If only pupils had checked their phones less, they might have scored higher, the team suggests.
Grammar exercise
Complete each sentence using the past perfect form after 'wish' or 'if only'. Use the verb in brackets.
1. Before the tests, students wish they (wait) to open accounts.
2. By age 16, teachers wish pupils (score) higher.
3. After many nights, families wish children (check) phones less.
4. Before the ban, policymakers wished they (introduce) limits earlier.
5. Earlier in the study, researchers wish pupils (open) accounts later.
Discussion
For reflection or speaking practice — not graded.
- Do you think six months of learning is a big difference? Why or why not?
- How can parents and schools help children use social media more safely?
- Would an age limit or a ban be a good idea in your country? Explain.
- What changes could social media companies make to reduce distraction for young users?