Cognitive Impact
Spotify
Spotify AB
Category
Publisher
Cognitive Load
Privacy
48.6
%
Apps in this category begin to show more pronounced negative effects on cognitive functions such as reduced attention span and distractibility. However, impacts might still be managed with strict usage limits and parental controls.
General Comments
Cognitive Load per Domain
(Min = 0, Max = 50)
0
0
0
0
0
0
Perceptual Motor Skills
Executive Functioning
Complex Attention
Learning and Memory
Language
Social Cognition
Suggested Screen Time
(Minutes per Group Age)
Frequent Breaks: Encourage taking a break every 30 minutes to rest eyes and stretch, which helps reduce physical and mental fatigue.
Active Hours: Promote active and outdoor activities to balance the sedentary lifestyle often associated with high screen time.
Educational and Productive Use: Prioritize applications that provide educational value or promote skill development over purely entertainment-focused usage.
5 – 11 years old | 12 – 15 years old | 16 – 19 years old | 20+ years old |
|---|---|---|---|
30 | 90 | 70 | self-regulated* |
Music
iOS, Android, Web
Supported OS
self-regulated* : This concept involves developing personal discipline and habits to ensure that screen time is balanced and does not negatively impact other aspects of life, such as sleep, physical activity, homework, and social interactions.
Minimum
Low
Moderate
High
Severe
100%
72.5%
60%
45%
25%
0%
0 %
Cognitive Load
Perceptual-Motor Skills
Impact: Excessive use of digital devices can impair hand-eye coordination and reaction time, leading to clumsiness and slower physical responses.
Example: A child who spends hours playing fast-paced video games may begin to experience difficulties in sports or physical activities that require precise timing and coordination, like catching a ball or playing musical instruments.
Learning and Memory
Impact: Constant digital interruptions can hinder the brain's ability to process and retain new information, affecting learning outcomes and memory recall.
Example: A child who uses their tablet for homework with multiple apps open may find it hard to remember the details of their homework the next day because their brain is overloaded with too much information at once.
Executive Functioning
Impact: Overloading on digital tasks can diminish a young person's ability to plan, organize, and prioritize effectively. This can manifest as poor decision-making and difficulty managing time.
Example: A teenager who constantly switches between different social media apps may struggle to complete school projects on time or plan their study schedule, as they cannot effectively prioritize their academic responsibilities over online activities.
Language
Impact: Extensive texting and use of online slang can negatively impact grammar and vocabulary development, leading to poorer communication skills.
Example: A teenager who primarily communicates through text messages using abbreviations and emojis may struggle with writing essays or expressing complex ideas clearly in oral presentations at school.
Complex Attention
Impact: Digital overload can fragment attention spans, making sustained concentration more difficult. This affects a student’s ability to follow through with longer tasks or activities.
Example: A student who frequently checks notifications on their phone during class may miss key details of the lesson, leading to gaps in understanding and poor performance on tests.
Social Cognition
Impact: High digital media usage can reduce the ability to understand and process social interactions and norms, which are crucial for developing empathy and effective social skills.
Example: A teenager who spends most of their time interacting through digital platforms might misinterpret social cues during face-to-face interactions, such as not recognising sarcasm or misunderstanding body language, which can lead to social awkwardness or conflict.