HOW COULD IT NOT? –

Jan. 3, 2023 – At the beginning of the study each 12-year-old participant was asked how many times they checked their social media feeds each day. Those who checked their socials 15 or more times a day were classified as habitual users. Non-habitual users checked social media less than once a day, while moderate users were in the middle. Over the next three years the participants underwent annual MRI scans during which they played a game designed to trigger brain activity in regions associated with social feedback responses.

The striking findings revealed those children with habitual social media checking behaviors showed greater activity in parts of the brain associated with social anticipation and social rewards. And, over the three-year study period, sensitivity in those brain regions increased.

“The findings suggest that children who grow up checking social media more often are becoming hypersensitive to feedback from their peers,” explained corresponding author Eva Telzer.

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