The effect of prolonged social media use on mental fatigue and executive function in school athletes: A cross-randomised clinical trial

Abstract

Background: Technology plays a dominant role in the lives of teenagers and school athletes, who are increasingly hyperconnected. While technology offers numerous benefits, excessive use of smartphones and social media may adversely affect psychological well-being, leading to mental fatigue and, consequently, impairments in executive functions. These functions are essential for daily life and particularly critical for sports that demand rapid decision-making and open-skill performance. Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of prolonged social media use on executive functions in school futsal athletes. Method: In a cross-randomised clinical trial, sixteen male school athletes (aged 13–16 years) were evaluated for anthropometric characteristics and sleep patterns. A 100 mm Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and the Stroop Test were administered before and after a mental stress protocol. For the mental fatigue protocol, participants remained seated while using a selected social media platform on their smartphones for 40 minutes without interruption. In the control condition, participants watched a documentary for the same duration. Results: Mental fatigue indices were significantly lower in the control condition compared with the experimental condition (Effect size: –0.750; Power: 0.905). In the Stroop Test, the number of incongruent errors was lower, and the number of incongruent hits was higher, in the control group compared with the experimental condition (p = 0.044; Power = 0.928/0.999). Participants in the control condition also exhibited faster total reaction times (p = 0.044; Power = 0.942). Conclusion: Forty minutes of continuous social media use impairs executive functions — such as processing speed and inhibitory control — and induces mental fatigue in school futsal athletes.