Archive · 23 Jul 2025
Early Smartphone Use Linked to Mental Health Issues
A new study found that letting kids use smartphones too early can be bad for their mental health.
Researchers looked at how people's mental well-being was affected by when they first got a smartphone.
Kids who started using smartphones before age 13 had more mental health problems when they grew up.
Social media, like apps, seemed to make things worse.
It's like when kids start using social media, it can hurt them.
Experts say that waiting to give kids smartphones until they are older, teaching them about being safe online, and creating safer tech alternatives may help.
Study shows early smartphone use is linked to mental health issues in young adults.
Young adults (18-34) with early smartphone access reported worse mental health.
Early smartphone use correlated with higher rates of suicidal thoughts, especially in women.
Social media use via smartphones is linked to roughly 40% of the mental health risk.
Experts suggest delaying smartphone access and enforcing age restrictions could help.
- Who
- Researchers at Sapien Labs conducted the study.
- What
- A study linking early smartphone use to mental health problems in young adults.
- When
- Study results based on data from the Global Mind Project.
- Where
- Study involved nearly two million individuals across 163 countries.
- Why
- To assess the impact of early smartphone use on mental well-being.
Potential Negative Effects
Lack of Effect
Smartphone Impact
Potential Negative Effects
Early smartphone access can negatively affect mental health.
Lack of Effect
Smartphone use has no effect on mental health.
- Study Publisher
- Journal of Human Development and Capabilities
- Data Source
- Global Mind Project
- Age Group with Most Issues
- 18-34
- Risk from Social Media
- 40%
- Recommendation
- Delay smartphone use