Problematic social media use among adolescents is associated with a subsequent increase in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms, according to a study published Friday in JAMA Network Open.Why It’s Relevant
Previous research has identified a link between social media use and broader mental health difficulties in adolescents—which has led to successful lawsuits against social media companies in the United States. Problematic social media use (PSMU) is characterized by a loss of control, causing children and adolescents to be preoccupied with social media and unable to curb their use. These features align closely with aspects of ADHD, but whether there is a deeper link between PSMU and ADHD remains unclear.
By the Numbers
- Researchers analyzed self- and parent-reported data collected over five years from 11,286 adolescents enrolled in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study.
- Increases in self-reported PSMU during one annual assessment were associated with higher parent-reported ADHD symptoms the following year during mid-adolescence (ages 14 through 16).
- Parent-reported ADHD symptoms were also associated with higher PSMU the following year, but only when participants were between ages 14 and 15; it was not statistically significant when participants were between 15 and 16.
What’s More
When investigating sex-based differences, the association between PSMU and ADHD symptoms was higher among males. But there were correlations between ADHD and PSMU traits among females as well, so the researchers noted that these findings should be viewed with caution.
The Other Side
ADHD symptoms were parent-reported, which may reflect their perceptions rather than behavioral change. (In a sensitivity analysis, changes in PSMU were not associated with changes in adolescent-reported ADHD symptoms.) Further, the ABCD study overrepresents White youths from higher-income families. Finally, the PSMU measure included multiple social media platforms, such as TikTok, Snapchat, and multiplayer gaming chats; differences among these platforms may account for some of the sex-based differences that the study identified.
Takeaway Message
The mid-adolescent trend identified in the study “suggests that, as youths age and gain more autonomy over social media use and time online more generally, the association between PSMU and ADHD symptoms becomes evident,” the researchers wrote. They continued: “These findings suggest that PSMU may warrant attention in clinical assessments of youths, particularly those with attentional challenges.”
Related Information
Source
Jason M. Nagata, et al. Problematic social media use and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptoms in adolescents. JAMA Network Open. Published July 17, 2026. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2026.23748
(Image: Getty Images/iStock/FG Trade Latin)
