- Many young people use social media every day now.
- A new study links social media with weaker reading.
- Children who use it a lot learn new words more slowly.
- They can have trouble saying and recognizing simple words.
- Slower reading makes some school tasks and tests harder.
- The research followed children from around age ten for years.
- Not all test results were negative for social media users.
- The researchers say the brain changes with different use.
Difficult words
- social media — websites and apps for talking and sharing
- link — show a connection between two thingslinks
- weak — not strong or less powerfulweaker
- recognize — see or know something from beforerecognizing
- researcher — person who studies things for scienceresearchers
- follow — watch or check someone for some timefollowed
- reading — ability to understand words in text
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- Do you use social media every day?
- Do you find reading easy?
- How often do you read?
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