Early SNS Use Linked to Lower Math and Korean Achievement in Adolescents

A study has found that students in Italy who started using social media around the ages of 11 to 12 had lower Italian and math scores than students who started later. A research team at the University of MilanoBicocca surveyed 5,227 Italian high school students about when they first started using smartphones, when they created SNS accounts, and their usage habits, then compared the results with the national academic achievement assessment. The analysis found that students who began using SNS in sixth grade had lower scores in their native language and math than those who started after age 14, and the difference was estimated to be roughly equivalent to about six months of learning progress. The research team interpreted this as the habit of frequently checking smartphones distracting attention and affecting academic performance. On the other hand, there was no clear difference in English scores, and it was suggested that exposure to English content through SNS may have offset some of the impact. However, the research team explained that these results are based on an observational study, so it cannot be concluded that SNS is a direct cause of lower grades.