Daijiworld Media Network – New York
New York, Jul 21: Children who own smartphones before the age of 13 are significantly more likely to experience poor mental health and well-being in early adulthood, a major global study has revealed.
Published in the Journal of Human Development and Capabilities, the research analyzed responses from over 100,000 individuals aged 18 to 24 across multiple countries. It found that those who received their first smartphone at or before the age of 12 reported higher levels of suicidal thoughts, aggression, emotional instability, detachment from reality, and lower self-worth.
“Early smartphone ownership – and the social media exposure it brings – is linked to a profound shift in mental health outcomes,” said lead author Dr Tara Thiagarajan, neuroscientist and Chief Scientist of US-based Sapien Labs. “These symptoms go beyond typical anxiety or depression and are often missed in standard assessments.”
The study attributed the decline to increased exposure to social media, cyberbullying, disrupted sleep, and weakened family bonds, all of which intensify with early smartphone access.
Using Sapien’s “Mind Health Quotient” (MHQ) tool, researchers assessed cognitive, emotional, social, and physical well-being. They found that the younger the age of smartphone ownership, the lower the MHQ score. Girls showed reduced emotional resilience, self-worth, and confidence, while boys reported lower levels of calmness, empathy, and self-image.
The researchers urged policymakers to treat smartphone access in children like alcohol and tobacco—calling for age restrictions, compulsory digital literacy education, and stricter corporate accountability.
Several countries, including France, Italy, the Netherlands, and New Zealand, have already introduced bans or restrictions on smartphone use in schools. In the US, multiple states have moved to limit smartphone access in educational settings.
Dr Thiagarajan warned that early digital exposure, especially to AI-driven platforms, is “profoundly diminishing” the mental health of future generations and called for urgent reforms to safeguard children’s well-being.