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20h ago

Early Smartphone Ownership Before 13 Tied to Adult Mental Health Struggles

They recommend age-based access restrictions plus mandatory digital literacy programs to safeguard youth mental health.

Parents can still make changes if their children already have smartphones, Kara Alaimo says.
Kids who used smartphones before age 13 faced sleep disruptions, cyberbullying and negative family relationships, according to a new study.
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Overview

  • Receiving a first smartphone before age 13 is associated with increased rates of suicidal thoughts, aggression, detachment from reality and low self-worth among 18- to 24-year-olds.
  • Mental Health Quotient scores decline progressively the younger individuals are at first ownership, dropping from an average of 30 at age 13 to just 1 at age five.
  • Early social media use explains about 40% of the link between early smartphone access and later mental health issues, with sleep disruption, family strain and cyberbullying also contributing.
  • The association holds true across regions, cultures and languages, indicating a critical developmental window under age 13.
  • Researchers call for enforcing smartphone age limits, integrating digital literacy into education and holding tech companies accountable for youth protections.