Lo studio dimostra l'impatto dell'uso dei social media sulle prestazioni scolastiche

A study published in the journal Nature Human Behaviour has found measurable and lasting negative effects on school performance linked to early social media usage among children and adolescents. Researchers from the Universities of Milan-Bicocca and Brescia conducted a longitudinal study tracking the academic outcomes of 5,227 students from northern Italy over several years. The findings suggest that creating personal social media profiles at a young age, before the sixth grade, is associated with reduced learning achievements, particularly in core subjects such as mathematics and native language. The study addresses long-standing concerns about the impact of digital media on minors, many of which have been limited by methodological flaws in previous research. Earlier studies often relied on cross-sectional surveys, making it difficult to distinguish cause from effect. This new research used statistical difference-in-differences models and matching techniques to compare students who created their own social media accounts as early as the sixth grade with a control group that gained access later, typically around the ninth grade. The results show that students who began using platforms like TikTok, Instagram, or Snapchat before the age of 11 performed significantly worse in standardized tests taken in the eighth and tenth grades. The average decline in scores ranged from 0.22 to 0.27 standard deviations, equivalent to roughly half a year’s worth of learning progress. While the drop was slightly less pronounced for students who started using social media in the seventh or eighth grades, the differences remained statistically significant. Notably, the negative effects did not diminish over time. In fact, the study found that the impact became more pronounced by the tenth grade. One exception was observed in English language performance, where researchers noted no significant disadvantages. They attributed this to informal exposure to English content on these platforms, which may partially offset the cognitive distractions caused by frequent social media use. To better understand the mechanisms behind these effects, the team examined various factors influencing daily life. A key factor identified was the pervasive presence of smartphones during critical periods of the day. Model calculations indicated that between 15 and 47 percent of the negative performance impact could be directly attributed to smartphone use during times when focused learning is essential, such as while working on homework, just before bedtime, or immediately after waking up. The study highlights how constant interruptions and multitasking can lead to cognitive overload, impairing deep information processing and essential concentration skills needed for effective learning. These findings underscore the importance of considering the timing and context of digital device use, especially during formative educational stages. The research adds to growing evidence suggesting that early engagement with social media may hinder academic success. As educators and policymakers grapple with the increasing role of technology in youth lives, these insights offer a clearer understanding of potential risks and the need for balanced approaches to digital integration in education.