Kathryn L. Mills · Media and Communication 2016 · narrative review · n=?

Possible Effects of Internet Use on Cognitive Development in Adolescence

Cited 76 times in the scientific literature.

Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data

narrative review integrating empirical and experimental studies without reported systematic search methods

OpenAlex W2420760912 · doi:10.17645/mac.v4i3.516 · record verified 2026-08-27

What was done

This review synthesized existing empirical evidence and relevant experimental studies to evaluate the potential impacts of digital media and internet use—specifically being "constantly online"—on the cognitive development of adolescents.

What was found

The abstract presents a conceptual overview without reporting quantitative findings, specific effect sizes, statistical directions, or numerical data.

Why it matters

It provides a synthesis of contemporary research addressing public and policy concerns regarding adolescent internet use, contextualizing popular narratives against available empirical evidence.

Limits

The abstract describes a narrative rather than a systematic review, offering no details on search strategy, study selection criteria, or study counts. No primary data, quantitative results, or specific outcome measures are reported.

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