Today, at a conference held at Milano-Bicocca, the results of the EYES UP (EarlY Exposure to Screens and Unequal Performance) study were presented. This pioneering scientific research was conducted by the University of Milano-Bicocca in collaboration with the University of Brescia, the Sloworking Association, the Socialis Research Center, and funded by the Cariplo Foundation.
For the first time, the study provides statistical evidence on the effects of early access to digital devices on academic performance, using longitudinal data collected from 6,609 students in the second and third years of upper secondary schools in Lombardy. The research analyzed the link between the age at first use of smartphones and social networks and school performance, combining student questionnaire responses with their results in the INVALSI standardized tests (National Institute for the Evaluation of the Education System).
The data reveal that students who create a social media profile in their first year of middle school score, on average, lower in standardized Italian and math tests compared to those who wait until age 14, the minimum age set by European regulations. In particular:
● Early use of social networks negatively affects language and math skills: students who start using social media before age 12 show a decline in academic performance compared to those who start at 14.
● The negative impact is widespread but more pronounced among boys: the study highlights that male students are more affected by early social media use, with a stronger effect on their concentration and ability to maintain good results in Italian and math.
One of the most significant findings of the EYES UP study concerns the social distribution of early digital device use. The data show that students whose parents have lower educational attainment receive their first smartphone earlier than peers from more privileged backgrounds. Students who access social networks at a younger age tend to live in environments with fewer educational stimuli at home, where parental support for managing online time is less structured.
EYES UP also highlighted the pervasive presence of smartphones in students' daily lives. Over 50% of students often or always use their smartphone as soon as they wake up, and 22% check it just as frequently during the night, disrupting their sleep. Moreover, 51% admit to using it during family meals, although only 10% do so systematically—an indication that family rules limiting device use in certain contexts do exist.
Regarding digital activities, the research found that:
● 94% of students use the Internet to search for information on personal interests, and 83% read news online, showing active engagement with digital information.
● 99% listen to music online and 98% watch short videos on platforms such as TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts, with widespread daily usage.
● 42% of students create their own content, such as videos or music, and 18% write texts online, indicating a dominant trend toward active consumption and content production.
The study's data also show a significant gender difference in how smartphones and social media are used. Girls tend to use social networks more, especially platforms like Instagram and TikTok, to share content and interact with peers, and they are more emotionally invested in these interactions. Boys, on the other hand, more frequently use smartphones for activities related to online gaming and for consuming long-form streaming content, such as on Twitch and YouTube.
► More information on the final report here