ADHD Weekly -- Are Cell Phone and Social Media Use Causing ADHD? No Evidence

[KarenADHDWeekly]

You've read the articles this week claiming cell phones and social media cause ADHD.

We talked with a researcher on teen ADHD and she says that assessment is inaccurate. Digital media is not a cause of ADHD. Read what she told us at "Are Cell Phone and Social Media Use Causing ADHD? No Evidence" at bit.ly/nrcdigitalmediaadhd.

What do you think about teens' use of social media?

[Laufer]

My take on this story: the evidence is not pointing to screen time and social media as a CAUSE of ADHD but that people with ADHD show increased use of screen time. That makes sense to me. NBC evening news last night tried to make that clear (assuming this is the same basic story), but the headlines are bound to be misleading. 😡 What a disservice to parents with kids with ADHD...once again it points to us as bad parents.

[KarenADHDWeekly Partner in reply to Laufer]

Your take would be in-line with what our professional advisory board member was saying in our article.

Thanks!

Karen

The National Resource Center on ADHD

[Billy50]

This article is so wrong. That is not the question at all. Social Media does not cause ADHD, but it is a very negative place for people with ADHD. The Social Media is dominated by

"with it" bullies who do not listen and attack others while proclaiming tolerance (Yes, mostly liberals). And I do not want to talk politics, but I dislike Liberalism because they betrayed me by claiming to be for people and it reality marginalizing and pushing down people like myself with ADHD and Autism. Aside from their politics, these bullies on Social Media do not listen, and yet they bully and put down we with ADHD. I was very nice with people and respectful, and some people are just mean bullies and narcissists. So, five months ago I quit Facebook. My life is 1000% better today. Facebook is a very, very bad place, filled with hatreds, negativity, and bullying disguised as "friendly discussion with "friends"". I have lost so many so called friends and relatives on there, because they do not get it is not about all the political nonsense on there and stuff. It is about treating people with respect. When people treat me with disrespect, one strike and you are out. I tried being nice with people, but found out that being nice and fair towards people who are bullies is foolish. Basically, ADHD is not caused by Social Media, but Social Media is a place filled with "with it" bullies who bully others. And it is not just "liberals". I blocked a "conservative relative" of mine for he and his "friends" showing gross disrespect towards me. I am one of the nicest of the nice, but no more. People who bully are no longer friends.

[KarenADHDWeekly Partner in reply to Billy50]

Hello Billy50,

Our professional advisory board member also feels that people who have ADHD may be more distracted by social media; there is no evidence that social media or digital media is a cause of ADHD but rather that people who have ADHD may be more drawn to it.

Bullying in any form is wrong and I am sorry you have experienced this. I'm glad you found a solution that works for you.

Best wishes,

Karen

The National Resource Center on ADHD

[Billy50 in reply to KarenADHDWeekly]

I was drawn to Facebook, because I felt it was a last resort. Ten years ago, I was like "I have tried everything and nothing ever changes". I was not idealistic, but I still believed that "friends" were better than I thought they were. At least, I found out the truth about a lot of people who claim to be "friends" and "relatives". There were nice people on Facebook, but in the end I knew that it was tedious for them to listen to my brooding about my life at times and it was not really a healthy place. I call it "the Anti Social Media". It is an excuse for advertising and for interest groups to promote their political and social agendas. I belonged to a cat picture website and was surprised when some women posters started espousing "anti male agenda". I told them 'They were on the wrong website'. There are crazies on the Social Media and it was causing stress, negativity, and wearing me out. Since being off Facebook, life is way better.