Social media addiction is systematically undermining the cognitive development of children in Antigua and Barbuda — and most parents remain unaware of the damage being done. That is the stark warning issued by communications specialist Dwayne Simon, according to Antigua Observer.
Simon pointed to the rapid rise of short-form content on platforms such as TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts as a key driver of the problem. He warned that prolonged exposure to this type of content is eroding children's ability to focus, think critically, and develop at a healthy cognitive pace.
The specialist's comments highlight a growing concern among child development advocates about the unchecked use of social media among young people across the region. Parents, Simon suggested, are largely failing to recognise the warning signs as the shift in their children's behaviour and attention spans unfolds gradually over time.
As reported by Antigua Observer, Simon's remarks serve as a call to action for parents, educators, and policymakers to take the issue more seriously before the effects become irreversible across a generation of young Antiguans and Barbudans.
