Kids are abandoning sport, reading, music, and the arts as social media use continues to surge, raising serious concerns about their development.
New research from the University of South Australia shows that social media use among children and teenagers has increased by more than 200 per cent since before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Researchers tracked more than 14,000 South Australian students aged 11 to 14 from 2019 to 2022. Over this four-year period, the proportion of young people using social media daily jumped from 26 per cent to 85 per cent.
This rise coincided with a sharp decline in key developmental activities. The percentage of children who never read for fun grew from 11 per cent to 53 per cent, while those who never took part in arts activities increased from 26 per cent to 70 per cent. The proportion of students who did not participate in extra-curricular music rose from 70 per cent to 85 per cent. Meanwhile, non-users of social media plummeted from 31 per cent to just 3 per cent.
The study found gender differences as well: boys showed a steeper drop in reading, while girls consistently used social media more frequently. Researchers noted that these trends have not reversed even after pandemic restrictions were lifted.
In contrast, time spent watching TV, doing chores, and playing electronic games increased during the pandemic but returned to pre-pandemic levels by 2022.
“There’s no doubt that social media has become deeply embedded in children’s daily lives. But now it’s at the point where it’s replacing many of the activities that support healthy development—like sport, reading, and creative play,” UniSA researcher and PhD candidate Mason Zhou said.
“Because these changes occurred during a critical stage of adolescence, and because they’ve persisted three years after COVID restrictions ended, they may have lasting impacts on young people’s health and wellbeing—and that’s a real cause for concern.”
With Australia preparing to implement a social media ban for children under 16, the researchers said the study highlights where additional support will be needed for younger teens and children.
Co-researcher Professor Dot Dumuid emphasized the need for more programs and policies to help young people re-engage in enriching activities such as sport, music, arts, and reading.
“If we want to support young people’s wellbeing, we need to help them rebalance their time—encouraging them to reconnect with real-world activities that build skills, confidence, and social connection,” Dumuid said.
She added that children who take part in sports, arts, and other extra-curricular activities tend to have better academic results, stronger self-identity, improved social skills, and better mental health.
Dumuid also warned that the dominance of social media poses developmental risks to adolescents.
“The pending social media bans are certainly an intervention aimed at protecting children,” she said. “When access is restricted, children may shift to alternative platforms like gaming, messaging apps, or TV. Tracking these behavioural shifts and examining their short- and long-term impacts on young people’s health and wellbeing will be important as we move beyond the ban.”
