October 13, 2025

expert reaction to research letter on social media use trajectories and cognitive performance in adolescents

A research letter published in JAMA looks at adolescent social media use and cognitive performance. 

Prof Victoria Goodyear, Professor of Physical Activity, Health, and Wellbeing, University of Birmingham, said:

“In the study by Nagata and colleagues, data is reported from the ABCD study and of a large sample. The findings are consistent with existing evidence that reports increased time on social media is associated with worse outcomes, including the area of academic achievement. An interesting finding is that not only high, but lower levels of use are associated with worse outcomes. Appropriate limitations are reported.”

Prof Chris Ferguson, Professor of Psychology, Stetson University, said:

“The authors characterize this as finding correlations between social media use and cognitive performance.  However, I disagree with this interpretation. The effect sizes reported are so small as to likely be the result of statistical noise. This is a common error in studies in this field where small statistical effect sizes are interpreted as meaningful. The authors also claim there is consistent evidence linking social media use to poorer cognitive outcomes. That simply isn’t true. When looking at all the evidence we have accumulated, it is much less straightforward. Other weaknesses such as the self-report nature of social media use, which is now known to be unreliable, are acknowledged. Put simply, this study provides little real evidence for a link between social media use and cognitive performance in youth.  Youth cognitive performance tends to remain stable over time and this study supports that.”

‘Social Media Use Trajectories and Cognitive Performance in Adolescents’ by Jason M. Nagata et al. was published in JAMA at 16:00 UK time Monday 13th October.

DOI: 10.1001/jama.2025.16613

Declared interests

Prof Victoria Goodyear:

Grants and contracts  –

UK Department for Science, Innovation and Technology – All funding was paid to The University of Birmingham

Alumni/Daro funding – Philanthropic funding from David and Vicky Gill for the School Phone Policies and Practices Study (SPPP).  All funding is paid to The University of Birmingham.

ESRC/ Centre-UB – Starting School Study. All funding is paid to The University of Birmingham.

ESRC – Project Safety Net. All funding is paid to The University of Birmingham.

Research England – SMS Study. All funding is paid to The University of Birmingham.

NIHR – NIHR Public Health Research Programme funding was received (NIHR131396). All funding is paid to The University of Birmingham. 

Leadership or fiduciary role in other board, society, committee or advocacy group, paid or unpaid –

Department of Education – TAG Member Growing up in the 2020s. Unpaid.

ukactive – Advisory role and panel speaker; Active Uprising Event, Anxious Generation. Unpaid.

APPG Political and Media Literacy – Academic Advisory Panel

Prof Chris Ferguson: I have no conflicts of interest to declare.