New study sounds the alarmSocial media makes children do worse in school

The performance of students apparently suffers when social media and other digital media eat up too much time. This is suggested by a study by the Institute of German Economics in Cologne, which the stern (part of RTL) reported in advance. The authors evaluated PISA data from 2022. Their finding: The more time students spend a day using digital media such as social networks or video games, the worse their PISA results are.

The researchers' explanation: Those who spend a lot of time on their cell phones or playing video games often end up having less time for other things such as homework, reading and sports. This is exactly what can have consequences for the school. Because if there is no time for learning, skills and learning outcomes can be poorer.

Parents' home also counts, but…

At the same time, the study makes it clear that school performance does not only depend on social media. According to the authors, other factors also have a positive effect. These include a high professional status of the parents, lots of books in the household or if German is spoken at home.

Nevertheless, the negative connection with time spent on digital media remains visible, according to the study. This is true even when these other factors are taken into account.

The study was carried out for the New Social Market Economy Initiative. Their managing director Thorsten Alsleben finds clear words. The massive increase in social media consumption is no longer a harmless pastime, but a real threat to children's educational success and mental health.

A European country is already pulling the emergency brake.

The Greek government has decided to ban social media for minors under the age of 15. The ban is due to come into force on January 1st next year, as Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis reported on Wednesday (April 8th). “I know that some of you will be angry,” said Mitsotakis in a video distributed on the online service Tiktok, which is used by many children and young people.

However, the aim is not to keep minors away from technology, but rather to “fight against the addiction to certain applications that threatens your innocence and freedom”. Scientists have said clearly: “If a child spends hours in front of a screen, his brain doesn’t rest.”

With the Greek ban AND the new study from Germany, the debate about cell phones, social media and schools is getting new fuel.

Sources used: stern, AFP