A study conducted by the Institute of German Economy in Cologne (IW) suggests that the increasing use of social media may be contributing to the decline in school performance seen in recent years. According to the report, prepared for the “Initiative New Social Market Economy” (INSM) and reported by “Stern” the results of the OECD’s PISA study, which takes place every three years, are “significantly negatively” affected by the amount of time adolescents spend daily on digital media such as video games or social networks.
Consequently, less time is available for other activities like homework, reading, or sports. The researchers calculated, based on the 2022 PISA data, that “extensive daily use of digital media can reduce study time so much that the resulting skills and learning outcomes are correspondingly poorer”.
The authors also point out that several factors positively influence academic performance, such as the high professional status of parents, the number of books available in the household, or speaking German at home. Nevertheless, even when these factors are considered, the negative impact of time spent on social media remains evident.
Thorsten Alsleben, managing director of the initiative funded by employers’ associations, warned about the consequences. He stated, “The massive increase in social media consumption is no longer harmless entertainment, but a tangible danger to the educational success and mental health of our children”.