Children who regularly use social networks do less well in school

Children who regularly use online social networks perform less well in school than pupils who rarely use such sites, research has shown.

The study, by the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) in Australia, found that students who often use chat sites or Facebook were more likely to fall behind in maths, reading, and science. Yet pupils who play online video games perform better in school.

Because gaming requires the player to solve a series of puzzles before moving to the next level, students are thought to be able to “apply and sharpen” skills learned in school, the report’s author, associate professor, Alberto Posso, said.