Social media leads to emotional burnout in teenagers, say scientists

Addiction to platforms like TikTok leads to decreased concentration, emotional instability and even addiction-like behaviours,according to findings from Nanyang Technological University (NTU, Singapore), Research Network and US-based AI platform ListenLabs.ai.

The study involved 583 participants aged 13 to 25 and their parents from Singapore and Australia.

The main finding was that social media shapes young people's "near-compulsive behaviour". Some 68 per cent of the teens reported difficulties with concentration and attention. Many admitted they couldn't even finish watching short videos lasting about a minute.

"Because of TikTok, my attention span has become so short that I can't even watch a minute-long video," admitted one participant.

The authors believe a key reason for this phenomenon was the formation of a dopamine addiction: social media trains the brain to seek constant updates and instant rewards, which reduces the ability for deep, analytical thinking.

Professor Gemma Calvert, neuroscientist and lead researcher on the project, explained:

"Our brains get used to constant novelty and instant rewards. Over time, this reduces a person's ability to concentrate and think deeply. This mechanism is similar to addiction formation, where more stimuli are needed each time to feel gratification."

The impact of social media on young people's academic performance was also an important finding. Participants confessed that they could not complete school assignments without frequent interruptions on their smartphones, which, according to the scientists, jeopardises the future generation of professionals. 65% of teenagers believe that such habits will worsen their chances for successful studies and work in the future.

Differences in the perception of social networks were noted between countries: young people in Singapore assessed the positive impact of restrictions on the use of phones in schools, introduced by the Ministry of Education. Australian participants, on the other hand, expressed concern about the lack of similar measures in their country.

Co-author of the study, Research Network executive director James Breeze emphasised:

"It's time for platforms and device manufacturers to take responsibility for user wellbeing. We need to stop designing interfaces that monetise attention and start designing to help restore it."

What's needed, Breeze said, are default inbuilt tools such as time-of-use prompts, break reminders and elements that limit infinite scrolling:

"These mechanisms don't limit the user, but give them back control of their attention."

What makes the study special is that it was conducted using ListenLabs.ai artificial intelligence, which allowed for the collection of participants' natural voice responses instead of standardised questionnaires. This significantly sped up data processing: instead of six months, the analysis was done in just two days.

The study was initiated by Ella Carnegie-Brown, 19, a Research Network intern who noticed that her peers were increasingly experiencing social media anxiety, which was affecting their studies and socialising.

"As a member of Generation Z, I think it's important to raise awareness and gain a deeper understanding of how social media affects us not only today, but also in the future," she says.

The authors plan to publish the full report for use in schools and relevant agencies, and to conduct long-term research to track the dynamic impact of social media on young people's emotional health.