Does social media worsen teen tics? Young people say their condition was affected by increased online activity during the Covid pandemic … but the expert says more research is needed on a possible link
- Tics are rapid, repetitive muscle movements that lead to sudden concussions or body sounds.
- Overall, 85% say the frequency of their tics has worsened during Covid
- Half of the respondents say that increased use makes their condition worse
- Dr Jessica Frey of the University of Florida said more research was needed
Teenagers with tics say their condition was affected by increased online activity during the Covid pandemic, but an expert says more research is needed on a possible link.
Half of the respondents said that the increased online activity during the pandemic had worsened their condition.
U.S. researchers studied 20 people between the ages of 11 and 21 who experienced tics – defined as rapid, repetitive muscle movements that lead to sudden concussions or body sounds.
Nearly two-thirds say they spend about six hours a day on social media, while nine out of ten say their online activity increased during the pandemic.
Overall, 85% say the frequency of their tics has worsened during the pandemic – and 50% say social media has had a negative impact on them.
But Dr. Jessica Frey of the University of Florida said more research was still needed.
US researchers have studied 20 people between the ages of 11 and 21 who have experienced tics – defined as rapid, repetitive muscle movements that lead to sudden concussions or sounds.
Nearly two-thirds say they spend about six hours a day on social media, while nine out of ten say their online activity increased during the pandemic.
Ms. Frey said she conducted the study after noticing an increase in the number of young people coming to her clinic after the coronavirus epidemic.
She said the results “shed light” on the impact the pandemic and increased use of social media have on young adults.
But she stressed that more research is needed to better identify the exact cause.
Participants were asked to rank the weight of the tic on a scale from zero to six – zero means least severe and six means the highest.
Those who do not report an increase in the use of social media rate their rating at four, while those who say they have used it more rate it at five.
They were also asked to rank their quality of life on the same scale – zero means excellent, three suggest no change, and six are “the worst week ever”.
Those who increased their use of social media reported scores of 2.5, while those who reported low online activity had scores of 1.5.
Dr Frey said: “Given the known increase in the use of social media during the pandemic, as well as the parallel increase in tic disorders we observed in our clinic, we investigated whether there is any link between the use of social media and tic symptoms.
“Our results have begun to shed light on the impact that the Covid-19 pandemic and increased use of social media can have on teenagers and young people with tics.”
She added: “More research is needed to better identify the exact stressors that lead to more severe tics so we can work to reduce stressors.”
The study will be presented at the 73rd annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology next month.