Early Smartphone Use Linked to Poor Mental Health in Children, Study Finds

Early Smartphone Use Linked to Poor Mental Health in Children, Study Finds
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Parents should delay giving smartphones to children under 13, according to a new global study published in the Journal of the Human Development and Capabilities. The research, conducted by Sapien Labs, analyzed responses from nearly 2 million people across 163 countries. It found that early smartphone use is strongly associated with increased mental health issues, especially among preteen girls.

Children who received smartphones before age 13 reported higher rates of suicidal thoughts, emotional instability, lower self-worth, and detachment from reality. The study’s lead author, Dr. Tara Thiagarajan, said that each year earlier a child acquired a smartphone, their mental well-being was likely to decline further. These effects appear to stem from increased exposure to social media, sleep disruption, cyberbullying, and strained family dynamics.

The researchers called for global regulations to prevent children under 13 from accessing smartphones and social media, warning that individual parental efforts alone may not be enough. Experts, including Dr. Melissa Greenberg of the Princeton Psychotherapy Center, recommended that parents consider delaying smartphone access and work together within communities to set boundaries.

Initiatives like “Wait Until 8th” encourage collective pledges among parents to withhold smartphones until at least the end of eighth grade. While reversing smartphone use may be difficult, experts suggest options like parental controls, switching to simpler phones, or removing certain apps. Although the study is based on self-reported data and cannot confirm causality, it highlights the growing need to reassess young children’s exposure to digital technology.