“Cognitive control in media multitaskers” ten years on: A meta-analysis
Open accessAbstract
In the decade since Ophir, Nass, and Wagner’s (2009) seminal study numerous researchers have investigated possible associations between media multitasking and cognitive control. Extending recent reviews, the present study provides a synthesis of extant research into this association across measurement approachs and cognitive functions. Following a systematic search and selection process, 118 assessments were included in the meta-analysis. Overall, the pooled effect size of the association, across measurement approaches and cognitive control functions, is small. This association is moderated both by the measurement approach as well as by the outcome variables targeted. These differences are tested and explained in detail. Building on the findings, it is recommended that research be conducted to determine the sources of heterogeneity in outcomes, understand differences between measurement approaches, and address causality and theoretical mechanisms. Overall, the review suggests that, ten years on, we are no closer to understanding ‘cognitive control in media multitaskers.’
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Repeated exposure to short, emotionally salient, and algorithmically sequenced music-based clips may gradually train students into patterns of attention fragmentation.
“Repeated exposure to short, emotionally salient, and algorithmically sequenced music-based clips may gradually train students into patterns of attention fragmentation”
From Algorithmic short-video music consumption and academic related functions: a three-wave longitudinal study of university students (2026) · cites this paper as Parry and le Roux, 2021
The Rationale for Associations Between Media Multitasking and Cognitive Control (page not provided) discusses the hypothesis that repeated media multitasking can habituate people to broader distributions of attention. It does not address short, emotionally salient, algorithmically sequenced music clips or students specifically. The Address Causality and Theoretical Mechanisms section (page not provided) says the evidence cannot establish whether media multitasking causes changes in cognitive control. (LLM, conf=0.86)
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Cited by
Sorted by citations
Dong, J., Zhang, H., Zhao, J., & Yuan, R. (2026) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1907189
“…may gradually entrench patterns of rapid attentional switching and external-cue dependence, both of which are inconsistent with the sustained focus and active disengagement from distractors that attentional control requires (Ophir et al., 2009; Parry and le Roux, 2021; Petersen and Posner, 2012).”
- Authors
- Parry, D. A., & Le Roux, D. B.
- Affiliations
- Stellenbosch University (ZA)
- ORCID
- Parry, Douglas A.
- Venue
- Cyberpsychology: Journal of Psychosocial Research on Cyberspace
- Publisher
- Masaryk University Press
- Published
- 2021-04-26
- Volume
- 15
- Issue
- 2
- ISSN
- 1802-7962 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W3157962720
- Cited by
- 49
- References
- 70
- Citations by year
- 2026: 12 · 2025: 12 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 1
- FWCI
- 1.22
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- diamond
- doi.org
- Licence
- cc-by-nc-nd
- Locations
- Cyberpsychology Journal of Psychosocial Research on Cyberspace (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- VU Research Portal (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › Information Systems and Management › Personal Information Management and User Behavior
- Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Computer Science Applications › Digital Media and Philosophy
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies
- Keywords
- media multitasking, cognitive control, executive function, measurement methods, outcome heterogeneity, causal mechanisms, digital media use
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