Global study links early smartphone use to severe mental health issues in young adults

A global study involving more than 100,000 young people has revealed a strong link between owning a smartphone before the age of 13 and serious mental health challenges later in life, including suicidal thoughts, emotional instability, and low self-esteem.

According to findings reported by TRT Haber, young people who owned smartphones before their teenage years were more likely, by the ages of 18 to 24, to experience suicidal ideation, aggression, detachment from reality, loss of emotional control, and diminished self-worth.

Researchers emphasized that these negative outcomes are closely tied to early exposure to social media, cyberbullying, disrupted sleep patterns, and weakened family relationships. For example, participants who received their first phone at 13 scored an average of 30 on mental health scales, while those who had a phone as early as age 5 scored as low as 1.

Experts Call for Urgent Action

Dr. Tara Thiagarajan, chief scientist at Sapien Labs, which led the study, urged governments to adopt restrictions similar to those on alcohol and tobacco to limit smartphone access for children under 13.

“Young, developing minds are far more deeply affected by the online environment,” Thiagarajan said. “Policymakers need to take a cautious, preventive approach.”

Different National Approaches

The study highlighted how several countries have already taken steps to curb children’s phone use. France, the Netherlands, Italy, and New Zealand have introduced bans on smartphones in schools, while U.S. states such as New York, Alabama, and Oklahoma have begun implementing restrictions.

A government-backed study in the Netherlands found that such bans significantly improved students’ ability to focus.

Four Priorities for Protecting Children’s Mental Health

Researchers identified four key priorities to safeguard children’s mental well-being:

1. Making digital literacy and mental health education mandatory.

2. Holding tech companies accountable by detecting under-13 social media use.

3. Restricting access to social media based on age.

4. Implementing phased restrictions on smartphone use.