A new cohort study published in JAMA Network Open found that year-to-year increases in self-reported problematic social media use among U.S. youths were directly associated with ADHD symptoms in mid-adolescence, with the association particularly pronounced among male participants.

The reverse relationship — ADHD symptoms predicting later increases in problematic social media use — was found to be small and inconsistent across the study period.

The study’s corresponding author is Jason M. Nagata, MD, MSc, of the University of California, San Francisco.

Journal: JAMA Network Open
DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2026.23748
Publication Date: 17-Jul-2026

Source: EurekAlert