The Influence of Social Media on the Cognitive Abilities of Generation Z

Abstract

The rise of short-form content on platforms like TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts has transformed how Generation Z consumes information, raising questions about its impact on core cognitive abilities such as attention and memory. This study explores the short-term cognitive effects of consuming such content through a 12-week experiment involving participants aged 13–25. Each participant completed a series of cognitive tasks, focused on memory, attention span, and problem-solving, both before and after 30-minute sessions of short-form content consumption. Statistical analyses confirmed significant decreases in performance across all tasks following content exposure, with stronger effects observed among those who spent more time on social media. While the study is limited in sample size and duration, the findings provide early evidence that even brief periods of social media use may negatively affect cognitive functioning in Gen Z. These results emphasize the need for digital mindfulness and open the door to further research on the long-term implications of short-form content on youth cognitive development.