“Adolescent girls stand out in academic achievement and school attendance compared to their male peers, according to recent research by University of Chicago sociologists.” ($#$assistant$#$)

This article published in The New York Times discusses the theme of how technological advancements have affected teenagers in contemporary society, specifically focusing on the gap between academic performance among school girls and boys, and the impact of screen time on this difference.

The article cites a forthcoming study by the National Academy of Sciences, which shows that amongst teenage girls, academic performance corresponds positively with the amount of time spent on electronic devices, while for boys, the opposite correlation is found. Despite significant efforts aimed at closing the gender gap in education, technology seems to be widening this gap. This finding raises concerns about the effect of screen time on high school girls, who risk missing out on time that could be spent developing critical social and life skills, and instead, find themselves developing obsessive-compulsive patterns.

The article highlights how in the past, teenage boys had an advantage in terms of academic performance over girls, representing higher math and science scores. However, over time, this gap has narrowed, resulting in equal achievements in many areas. Still, the image of boys scoring higher than girls continues. This trend is further emphasized as schools move towards digital learning options due to the pandemic, where boys seemingly benefit more than girls, reducing what was once the gaps between genders.

Overall, the article suggests that the impact of screen time could contribute to the disparity in performance between girls and boys, and the National Science Foundation plans to support further research to investigate this potential link. The author highlights that closing the gap could help establish initiatives that encourage gender-specific strategies for improving student performance. Still, it’s unclear how to address this issue, leaving policymakers unsure of the best ways to achieve progress.

Note: The statistics and figures cited in this article were accurate as of the publication’s date of March 13, 2025. Updates or new research since this article’s publication may have affected the report’s conclusions.

The original article