Children who join social media earlier may fall behind at school, study suggests

Children who delayed getting social media until at least 14 scored better in some school tests, researchers found.

Schoolgirl in the school yard at recess watching videos and chatting with friends using a mobile phone

Getty/Elena Medoks

Published: August 5, 2026 at 1:19 PM

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Children who get their first social media account at the start of secondary school could be at greater risk of falling behind in some subjects, according to new research.

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The study found that pupils who joined social media at 11 or 12 scored lower in maths and reading-related tests than those who waited until they were at least 14. While the researchers stress the findings do not prove social media directly causes lower grades, they say the results add to growing evidence that the timing of children's social media use may matter.

The research is likely to be of interest to parents weighing up when their child is ready for social media, particularly as discussions around age limits and online safety continue.

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What did the study find?

Researchers from the University of Milano-Bicocca in Italy analysed survey data from more than 5,000 schoolchildren, comparing when they first opened a social media account with their results in standardised maths, Italian and English exams.

Children who joined social media at 11 or 12 performed less well in maths and Italian than classmates who waited until they were at least 14.

The researchers estimate the gap was roughly equivalent to around six months of learning by the time pupils reached age 16.

Importantly, the study cannot prove that social media was the direct cause of the differences. The researchers adjusted their analysis to account for a range of factors that could also influence school performance, including earlier academic achievement, family structure and parents' education.

Why might social media affect learning?

Dr Marco Gui, first author of the study from the University of Milano-Bicocca, believes one possible explanation is the way social media encourages children to check their phones repeatedly throughout the day.

He said one of the strongest predictors of lower performance was how frequently children picked up their smartphones during the day and night.

I think we now know there is a problem and that it's a complex problem, to do with how these platforms are built. Our research shows that at least during pre-adolescence, these social media are problematic.

Dr Marco Gui, University of Milano-Bicocca

The researchers suggest constant notifications and checking for updates may make it harder for children to stay focused on homework and other activities that require sustained concentration.

Was every subject affected?

Interestingly, the researchers found no measurable impact on English test scores.

They suggest this may be because the students were learning English as a foreign language, and regular exposure to English-language content on social media may have provided extra opportunities to read and engage with the language.

However, the benefits seen in English did not extend to maths or Italian.

What does this mean for parents?

The findings do not mean parents need to panic if their child already uses social media. Instead, the researchers say the study highlights the importance of helping children develop healthy digital habits, especially during the early secondary school years.

Dr Gui said he supports age limits for social media but believes making platforms themselves less addictive is also important.

Dennis Ougrin, professor of child and adolescent psychiatry at Queen Mary University of London, who was not involved in the research, said the findings build on existing evidence about social media and children's development.

The message for parents, educators and policymakers is not necessarily to ban social media, but to support young people in developing healthy habits when interacting with social media.

Dennis Ougrin, professor of child and adolescent psychiatry at Queen Mary University of London

What parents should keep in mind

The study, published in Nature Human Behaviour, shows an association rather than proving cause and effect. Every child is different, and many factors influence educational outcomes.

For example, Professor Kevin McConway, emeritus professor of applied statistics at The Open University, who wasn't involved in the study, says that we "can’t entirely rule out other possible explanations of the correlation between starting social media earlier and doing worse at school."

If your child is beginning to use social media, experts generally recommend:

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For many families, the research is another reminder that when children start using social media, and how they use it, may be just as important as how much time they spend online.

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