Social Media & Cognitive Demand

Cognitive demand is the level of knowledge, problem-solving skills, and attention required to complete a task or series of tasks. Social media & cognitive demand have a complex relationship with one another. Consistent social media use is a prevalent issue that often affects the well-being, academic, and work performance of many individuals today, particularly children and teens. Multiple studies continue to reveal that social media reduces people’s cognitive demands in a way that harms their productivity and working memory capacity. The instant gratification and distraction that social media provides are designed to capture and hold your attention to ads and algorithms.

At NeuroZone, we understand the social, professional, and academic challenges that can come with compromised cognitive demand. At our facility, we utilize the latest research to guide our attention training programs alongside brain-mapping technology called qEEG to assess individuals’ progress. Over a few sessions, with the help of qEEG and the expertise of our director and speech-language pathologist, Erin Badour, you can train your brain to fight against the harmful effects of social media use.

To get started today, inquire about a consultation online or contact one of our offices in Southern California. You can reach our Culver City or Santa Monica location at (310) 821-3640 or call our Redondo Beach office at (424) 247-8193.

Social Media’s Impact on Mental Health

Many of the world’s most successful companies understand the value of the “attention economy” that takes away from individuals’ time, energy, and focus. With new algorithms designed to deliver more personalized content, it is easier than ever for people to spend too much time on their phones. Unfortunately, this often comes at a cost, especially for the younger generation whose brains are still developing to their full potential.

Emotional Health

One study found that among teens, excessive social media usage of over 3 hours per day raised the risk of mental health problems, particularly the tendency of teens to develop internalizing problems. ⁽¹⁾ While externalizing problems can result in impulsivity and hyperactive behaviors, internalizing problems include more private behaviors and attitudes, resulting in excessive worry, social withdrawal, depression, and anxiety. One can easily figure out certain reasons for this– many teens who spend time on their phones are simply not exercising their social skills and feeling connected to others with in-person communication. Their app algorithms may also be contributing to what is colloquially known as “doom-scrolling”, a habit that causes people to feel drawn to negative and disheartening news. These effects can also link back to a decrease in cognitive demand since such individuals may become too distracted to focus on developing the problem-solving skills needed to confront their emotional health needs- connectivity and building community.

Social Health

For many, social media apps can be a way to supplement feeling connected to others and happenings around the world. Life events can also affect how much someone uses social media. This was especially apparent during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns. One study revealed that before 2020, only 4.7% used social media apps for more than 4 hours a day. During the lockdown, this statistic rose to 21.2%. ⁽²⁾ Internet usage, in general, went up during this time, suggesting that many individuals exemplified less cognitive demand. Many who find themselves addicted to social media may still be struggling to manage their time and regain these skills long after the pandemic.

Working Memory

Even if social media does not amplify emotional struggles, it can still have an impact on cognitive demand by targeting and decreasing individuals’ working memory capacity. Working memory is considered to be the opposite of long-term memory. It is responsible for brain mechanisms related to thinking efficiently in the moment without losing the “train of thought”. Those who have lower working memory capabilities may have attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or another related disorder that is characterized by increased distractibility. In one controlled study, a group of 10 to 14-year-olds’ levels of inattention were evaluated. They were assessed based on their usage of video games, TV consumption, and social media activity over a 4-year time period. The study concluded that children who spent more time scrolling on social media had increased symptoms of inattention. ⁽³⁾ Other research found that video games, in contrast, had a positive impact on intelligence; this is most likely because gaming requires sustained attention, learning, and other skills. ⁽⁴⁾ Social media, on the other hand, is a passive activity in which the user can simply jump to the next video or image without taking time to process it.

Treatment for Social Media Addiction and Other Effects

Attention Assessment

Erin may first conduct an attention assessment to examine different factors and identify if you possibly have a form of ADHD. If you have other signs and symptoms aside from distractibility, such as hyperactivity, impulsivity, restlessness, and inability to focus in multiple areas of your life, you may have ADHD. She may also ask you about your social media usage and if you believe it is impacting your cognitive demand.

Neurofeedback Protocol

The brain is a highly resilient organ that is responsive to training and treatment with new patterns of thinking. With a neurofeedback protocol, you can work on attaining better cognitive demand in your day-to-day life with the valuable insight that a qEEG brain map offers. To conduct a baseline assessment, she will place the qEEG cap with 19 non-invasive electrodes onto your scalp and decipher your brain’s electrical activity. The electrical activity will display on the qEEG monitor in the form of brainwaves, each indicating a different state of mind:

With neurofeedback, Erin can formulate a treatment plan that includes multiple brain mapping sessions. During the treatment itself, she will have you do a variety of computer-based tasks and programs to reinforce focused behavior. After some time, you will notice the difference in your brain maps and a positive difference in your ability to sustain cognitive demand in your daily life. She may also recommend neurofeedback to combat some other negative mental health effects of social media, such as amplified symptoms of depression or anxiety. The goal will be to reduce your overall usage of social media and get you to form positive thinking patterns.

Cogmed

Cogmed is a computer program that can help you develop working memory with visual and auditory tasks and exercises. With this comprehensive treatment, you will not learn focusing skills, but you will learn thought re-organization that will help you learn new skills in general. Erin will allow you to complete program exercises at your own pace, allowing you to feel adequately challenged without feeling overwhelmed. By building up working memory skills, you can also develop better selective attention skills. ⁽⁵⁾ This will help you combat the long-term effects of social media.

Your Consultation at NeuroZone

During your consultation with Erin at a NeuroZone location, you will be able to freely discuss your concerns and challenges that have arisen from social media usage. Erin will use diagnostic tools to evaluate whether ADHD may be a factor. She will ask you about specific goals for treatment and which areas of your life you would like to improve. She may go over the details of neurofeedback training and figure out if these treatment sessions may be beneficial to you. Erin understands that everyone’s relationship with social media is different, so every consultation is personalized to your needs. If you have any further questions at the end of your meeting, you will have a chance to ask them, and Erin will be sure to give you a thorough, informative response. At the end of the consultation, she may assist you in scheduling your first session or official assessment if you decide to move forward at NeuroZone.

To begin gaining better control over your thinking patterns and relationship to social media, call NeuroZone at (310) 821-3640 (Santa Monica/Culver City) or (424) 247-8193 (Redondo Beach), and Erin’s staff will help you schedule your consultation today. You can also fill out our contact form with your name and contact information, and we will respond as soon as we can.

Cost of Neurofeedback Training in Los Angeles

The cost of your treatment at NeuroZone will depend on the number of neurofeedback training sessions you will need to reach your specific goals and any additional assessments Erin recommends. During your consultation, Erin will give you a total cost breakdown of all associated fees. Keep in mind that she offers free consultations, so you will not need to invest anything until you receive your official treatment plan.

To find out more about how NeuroZone implements neurofeedback into other protocols, visit our blog.

FAQ

References

1. Riehm KE, Feder KA, Tormohlen KN, et al. Associations between Time Spent Using Social Media and Internalizing and Externalizing Problems among US Youth. JAMA Psychiatry. 2019;76(12):1266-1273. doi:https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2019.2325
2. Voss C, Shorter P, Mueller-Coyne J, Turner K. Screen time, phone usage, and social media usage: Before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Digital health. 2023;9:205520762311715-205520762311715. doi:https://doi.org/10.1177/20552076231171510
3. Nivins S, Mooney M, Klingberg T, Klingberg. Screen Time Use and Longitudinal Effects on ADHD Symptoms in Children.; 2024. https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/m3bkh
4. Sauce B, Liebherr M, Judd N, Klingberg T. The impact of digital media on children’s intelligence while controlling for genetic differences in cognition and socioeconomic background. Scientific Reports. 2022;12(1):7720. doi:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-11341-2
5. Oberauer K. Working Memory and Attention – A Conceptual Analysis and Review. Journal of Cognition. 2019;2(1). doi:https://doi.org/10.5334/joc.58