Impact of social media on cognitive development of children and young adults: a systematic review

Background: Social media has become an integral part of daily life for children and young adults, raising concerns about its influence on cognitive development. This systematic review evaluates the impact of social media usage on cognitive development in children and young adults, focusing on key domains such as attention, memory, executive function, and language development. Methods: Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, a comprehensive search was conducted across seven databases and grey literature sources. Studies published between January 2009, and November 2024 were screened using predefined PICOTS criteria. Twenty-three studies met the inclusion criteria, encompassing randomized controlled trials, non-randomized trials, and observational designs. Results: Findings revealed mixed effects of social media on cognitive development. Excessive use was associated with impaired attention, reduced working memory, and diminished executive functioning, particularly among adolescents with social media addiction. Conversely, certain platforms like Facebook and YouTube showed potential benefits in enhancing language skills and memory through educational engagement. The impact varied by platform type, usage intensity, and individual emotional states. Conclusion: While social media presents opportunities for cognitive enrichment, its overuse may hinder critical developmental processes. The review underscores the need for longitudinal studies and randomized trials to better understand causal relationships and inform guidelines for healthy digital engagement among youth.