What are the consequences social networks on brain development in young children? This is the question asked by American researchers at the University of Chapel Hill in North Carolina (United States) in a study published in the journal JAMA Pediatrics on January 3, 2023. According to them, too frequent use of social networks could significantly damage the brain development of adolescents.
To arrive at this observation, the scientists followed 169 students recruited from American public schools for three years. At the start of the study, participants indicated how often they visited three popular social media platforms: Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat. Their responses ranged from less than once to more than 20 times a day. Then, the participants were subjected for three years to different magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) performed during a video game to win prizes but also to have punishments.
Result? American researchers have observed that adolescents who consult social networks more often do it greater sensitivity to social reactions. “The findings suggest that children who grow up viewing social media more often become hypersensitive to feedback from their peers,” said Eva Telzer, lead author of the study, in a statement. communicated.
Too frequent use of networks (…)
