Social Media and Executive Functions in Adolescents: A Literature Review

Abstract This review analyzed the scientific literature on social media use, with an emphasis on TikTok, and its relationship with Executive Functions in adolescents. It aimed to identify the main indicators used to characterize the use of these platforms and to determine which cognitive processes may present associated deficits. Empirical studies published between 2013 and 2023, in English or Portuguese, that explicitly addressed the relationship between social media or TikTok use and Executive Functions in adolescence (10-19 years) were included. Searches were conducted in the Web of Science, PubMed, and Scopus databases. The sample consisted of 12 articles, 10 of which focused on the general use of social media and 2 focused specifically on TikTok. The results varied according to the executive component and platform investigated, revealing distinct mechanisms of interaction between online behaviors and the cognitive development of adolescents. The findings highlight gaps in the literature and underscore the need for more in-depth empirical research with adolescents.