When it comes to Facebook there may be more to bad memory than just multitasking

• Low and high Facebook users were given a free recall memory test.
• Participants did not use Facebook during study or test procedures.
• Study and test times were held constant for all participants.
• Low Facebook users recalled significantly more words than high users.
• Multitasking does not explain the current results.

Previous research has shown that high levels of Facebook use are associated with lower grades in college students. Divided attention in the form of trying to use Facebook during class or while studying has been suggested as a possible explanation for this finding. In the current study, 44 participants were divided into high and low Facebook users and completed a memory test for 72 words. Participants were not allowed to use Facebook, or any other electronic device, during the study thereby eliminating divided attention between Facebook and the task at hand as a possible explanation for the results. High Facebook users (defined as spending more than one hour a day on Facebook) scored significantly lower on the free recall test than low Facebook users. Possible explanations for this finding are discussed.