Effects of WhatsApp 's Use on Working Memory Performance Among Youth
Abstract
The current study seeks to shed light on the usage habits of the WhatsApp application among teenagers, exploring the effect of mobile instant messaging distractions on pupils' working memory performance. Research was conducted in Israel during 2016 school year. The study sample was divided into two groups randomly—a control group and an experimental group. Researchers used six questionnaires to gather personal details, execution assessment questionnaire, and Working Memory Index from the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-IV. The main findings show that WhatsApp's distractions, transmitted via smartphones, decrease pupils' performance of working memory. In addition, students are aware of the difficulty WhatsApp causes while performing a learning task and of the decrease in learning effectiveness. The present study displays a unique experiment that explored the direct effect of the distractions stemming from a new technological platform— WhatsApp—on young pupils' working memory. Further, it suggests that instructors and teachers should be aware of the potential damage of multitasking caused by smartphone use during learning tasks.
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Two RCT studies did not adequately report the selection and concealment of subjects.
“Additionally, while two RCT studies did not adequately report the selection and concealment of the subjects, which could influence their findings [11, 27].”
From Impact of social media on cognitive development of children and young adults: a systematic review (2025) · cites this paper as [11]
Randomisation sequence generation and completeness of outcome data were generally well-handled in both included RCTs.
“Randomisation sequence generation and completeness of outcome data were generally well-handled in both studies [11, 27].”
From Impact of social media on cognitive development of children and young adults: a systematic review (2025) · cites this paper as [11]
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Impact of social media on cognitive development of children and young adults: a systematic review
Naik, V. S., Mathias, E. G., Krishnan, P., & Jagannath, V. (2025) · BMC Pediatrics · doi:10.1186/s12887-025-06041-5 · Cited by 16 · see citing works
- Authors
- Aharony, N., & Zion, A.
- Affiliations
- Bar-Ilan University (IL)
- Corresponding author
- Aharony, Noa
- ORCID
- Aharony, Noa
- Venue
- Journal of Educational Computing Research
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2018-01-23
- Volume
- 57
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 226-245
- ISSN
- 0735-6331 (ISSN-L)
- 1541-4140
- OpenAlex
- W2793435808
- Cited by
- 39
- References
- 54
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 1
- FWCI
- 3.90
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Educational Computing Research (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › Information Systems and Management › Personal Information Management and User Behavior
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Impact of Technology on Adolescents
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Cognitive Abilities and Testing
- Keywords
- WhatsApp, working memory, mobile instant messaging, smartphone distraction, adolescents, multitasking, learning performance, technology use in schools
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