Srinagar, Jul 10 (KNO): A study conducted in four districts of Kashmir region exposes the academic and cognitive toll of excessive social media use among adolescents of classes 7th to 10th.
The study has quantitatively linked excessive social media usage to reduced attention spans, sleep disturbances, and declining academic interest among adolescents.
According to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) the findings of the study serve as a critical warning for the educators and parents that demand immediate action.
“In recent years, the increasing availability of smartphones and internet access has led to a significant rise in social media engagement among adolescents, raising concerns about its impact on learning behaviours and overall development,” reads the study.
The study was conducted among four hundred students of Classes 7th to 10th from selected schools in the districts of Shopian, Kulgam, Anantnag, and Srinagar.
“The findings reveal that a majority of students spend a considerable amount of time on social media platforms each day. Excessive screen time was found to be associated with reduced attention span, increased distraction during study sessions, sleep disturbances, emotional stress, and lower participation in physical activities,” reads the study.
The study also identified growing concerns regarding cyber risks, including cyberbullying, privacy threats, phishing attempts, and inadequate awareness of online safety practices among students.
It recommends the promotion of responsible digital behaviours, cyber-safety awareness programs, healthy screen-time management, and active guidance from parents and educational institutions to help students maintain a balanced relationship with technology.
“Whether it is WhatsApp, Instagram, YouTube, or any other medium has become an integral part of young people's daily lives. While these platforms offer communication, entertainment, and educational opportunities, growing evidence suggests that excessive use can negatively affect students, particularly those between the ages of 13 and 18 of Classes 7th–10th,” reads the problem statement of the study.
The study finds that one of the most noticeable effects observed during the surveys was the difficulty many students experienced in maintaining concentration, even for short periods.
“Research supports these observations, indicating that media multitasking and excessive social media use are negatively associated with attention, concentration, and academic performance. Studies have shown that prolonged screen exposure contributes to measurable concentration difficulties, with evidence suggesting a bidirectional relationship between social media use and attention-related challenges,” reads the study.
About the academic performance problem, the research reveals that the effects of poor concentration extend beyond attention difficulties and directly influence academic performance.
“Academic success relies heavily on cognitive functions such as attention, memory, and executive functioning, all of which have been shown to be negatively affected by excessive screen use,” it reads.
Research indicates that frequent mobile device usage is associated with lower academic achievement.
“Additionally, sleep deprivation caused by late-night screen use contributes to daytime fatigue, reduced classroom engagement, and poorer educational outcomes among adolescents,” the study said—(KNO)