Is There a Link Between ADHD and Social Media?

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Concerns have been expressed recently in the media about an increasing prevalence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and some have suggested that ADHD is linked to an increase in social media usage.

The evidence suggests that there is some truth in both positions, but, as usual, behind the panic-inducing reports are complex and subtle drivers of the headline statistics. Research shows that the diagnosis of ADHD is increasing, but only a little, and mostly for older people and women. It further shows an association between ADHD and social media usage, but the cause of this link is far from certain, and a simple causal relationship has not been demonstrated.

The most plausible suggestion is that social media offers opportunities for people with ADHD to interact socially in ways they find easier. This does not mean, of course, that these types of interactions are ultimately helpful for them.

Recent media reports have focused attention on ADHD, suggesting that its diagnosis and misdiagnosis are on the increase. This is not a recent moral panic, but this current panic, fronted by the BBC, among others, suggests that health companies are driving the increase by over-diagnosing the condition.¹ The backlash has been swift, with other media sources questioning these conclusions.²

The upshot of this febrile climate is uncertainty for the public and a distraction from the core issues; as one person with ADHD noted: "For people like me who are living with the neurodevelopmental condition, the rise of this rhetoric is alarming." ³ The issue becomes even more alarming when links with social media usage are thrown into the equation, with claims such as "technology addiction found to cause inattention and hyperactivity" ⁴ not being uncommon.

Unpacking these claims is tricky, but a few things are becoming fairly clear. In terms of ADHD diagnosis, it is probably increasing, but not by as much as some headlines infer, and not necessarily in the younger people who tend to use social media most. ADHD affects about 5 percent to 7 percent of people under 25 and about 2 percent to 6 percent of older adults, depending on which source you cite.⁵

This is an increase in prevalence compared to a few years ago, but many reasons drive this increase.⁵ The most significant driver is probably the increased recognition that a lot of cases have been missed in the past, and they are now being picked up, especially for older adults and women, which is where the largest increases are seen.⁶

Likely, this increase in reported cases is simply a diagnostic correction coupled with an increased awareness of the problem rather than an actual rise in ADHD. In one paper, diagnosis rates were found to have gone up. However, the levels of symptoms reported independently of the diagnosis over the same period remained static.⁷ This suggests that there are no more behavioural symptoms than there have always been, but they are now just labeled differently (as ADHD).

These somewhat more cautious interpretations of increased numbers of ADHD diagnoses suggest that panic about ADHD may be unwarranted. There is no epidemic unless it's an epidemic of media panic. Taken at face value, these prevalence considerations also suggest we do not have to be overly concerned about social media causing ADHD. Although usage of social media certainly has increased, the increase in ADHD seems not to be keeping pace.

However, such caution does not mean that social media use and ADHD are not related to one another. Two recent reviews have suggested plenty of evidence for a correlation between ADHD and social media use.^8,9 The task is to find out why there is such a relationship and whether one thing is driving the other or whether both are simply an index of the times: modern worries, anxieties, awareness, and sensibilities.

Research suggests that the link between ADHD and social media use revolves around several issues. Neurologically, people with ADHD are sensitive to the effects of reward and signals for impending reward (dopamine).⁸ This makes them less likely to be able to control an impulse, and they are, consequently, more susceptible to impulse disorders and addictions.¹⁰ Problematic social media use is, to a large part, impacted by such impulse-control issues.¹¹

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Given this, a link between ADHD and social media use is not surprising, but identifying such a link is a far cry from proving social media use causes ADHD. It may well increase the likelihood of some behaviours connected with ADHD. Still, ADHD is not just a set of unrelated behaviours but a cluster of behaviours that need to occur together.

Beyond the neurological issues, those with ADHD often find social interaction rather difficult and sometimes very challenging.⁹ They may even experience high levels of social rejection due to their condition.⁸ Like many who find it difficult to function in the real social world, those individuals may sometimes seek solace in the digital world, where interactions may be more to their tastes—fast, impulsive, and superficial, with little consequence of note should it go wrong.^8,9

The social difficulties associated with ADHD may have their origins in childhood, with parenting styles being a factor in the development of both neurological processing styles and social behaviours. Parents of children with ADHD face great challenges, often exacerbated by the fact that they, themselves, have a high chance of having ADHD. This can increase parenting stress, which negatively impacts positive limit-setting.^8,12

Poor limit-setting can involve lax parenting and poor monitoring, which are perfect conditions for allowing social media overuse. Thus, there may be a learned element about social media use that arises alongside ADHD and its effects on others, including parents. If this version is to be believed, then ADHD causes social media use (albeit indirectly).

It may be that the digital world offers opportunities to engage in being ADHD and not get censured for it. However, the use of social media, while offering some solace for those with ADHD, may cause some issues related to ADHD. It may well increase their impulsivity,¹³ and allow less connected interactions with others,¹⁴ resulting in less conflict of any consequence (not less conflict, but less conflict that is cared about). Increased levels of impulsivity and social problems are not, in themselves, ADHD, but they will exacerbate problems.

The above considerations suggest that any relationship between ADHD and social media use may be driven by the characteristics of those with ADHD, and it may suit their style. Whether this is a good or a bad thing will depend on your view of neurodiversity as a challenge or an opportunity.

Whatever the answer to this question, there is a need for caution about claims that either ADHD or the impact of social media on ADHD are on the increase. However, there are reasons why those with ADHD may prefer social media, and this preference may not always lead to positive outcomes.