Teenagers who check social media for several hours a day are at the risk of developing ADHD, a study has concluded.
The research team, from the University of Southern California, tracked 2,600 teenagers aged 15 and 16. They asked them how many times they checked their phones and other digital devices for various reasons, and then monitored them for symptoms of ADHD. After two years, those who had checked their phones the most often were twice as likely as those who cheeked the least often to show signs of ADHD.
Writing in the JAMA medical journal, the scientists said, “Modern media devices immediately inform users when new text messages, social media postings, or video game play invitations arrive. Exposure to such information may draw attention away from important tasks. Frequent distraction could interrupt the development of constant attention and organization skills.”
They believe constant access to instant entertainment also has an impact. Researcher Professor Adam Leventhal said all previous researches had focused on the link between ADHD and televisions. "What's new is that previous studies on this topic were done many years ago, when social media, mobile phones, tablets and mobile apps didn't exist. We can say with confidence that teens who are exposed to higher levels of digital media are significantly more likely to develop ADHD symptoms in the future, he said.
Leventhal believes the findings help fill a gap in understanding how new mobile media devices and seemingly limitless content pose a mental health risk for children. And the findings serve as a warning.
British scientists welcomed the findings. But Professor Andy Przybylski of the Oxford Internet Institute said, “The study relies on survey responses provided by the students in question. It is not clear if teachers or parents would rate the children similarly or if the self-reported measure of digital screen use is related with either actual behavior or higher quality survey items.”
【小题1】How did the researchers conduct the study?| A．By monitoring 2,600 teenagers with ADHD. |
| B．By controlling different teens, time spent on social media. |
| C．By tracking the participants for two years. |
| D．By analyzing data from previous researches online. |
| A．It will cause diverse ADHD symptoms. | B．It will create higher ADHD risks. |
| C．It will weaken teenagers' confidence. | D．It will have a major influence on organization skills. |
| A．It provides a better understanding of the media. | B．It should have focused on parents' responses. |
| C．Its findings are not reliable enough. | D．It's a breakthrough in this field. |
| A．The use of digital media is on the rise |
| B．Teens' exposure to modern media calls more attention |
| C．Heavy use of social media may increase Teens' ADHD risks |
| D．Teens are increasingly exposed to ADHD |
