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Early Smartphone Ownership Linked to Lasting Mental Health Risks

A global analysis indicates that early smartphone ownership before age 13 fuels suicidal thoughts by exposing preteens to social media harms, cyberbullying, sleep disruption, poor family relationships.

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

  • The study published July 21 in the Journal of Human Development and Capabilities analyzes data from over 100,000 18- to 24-year-olds across the Sapien Labs Global Mind Project.
  • Participants who received first smartphones at age 12 or younger reported higher rates of suicidal ideation, aggression, detachment from reality and diminished emotional regulation compared to those who acquired them at 13 or older.
  • Researchers attribute about 40% of the mental health associations to early social media use and find additional contributions from poor family relationships (13%), disrupted sleep (12%) and cyberbullying (10%).
  • The findings have prompted experts to urge urgent policy measures including restricting smartphone access for under-13s, mandating digital literacy education, strengthening age-verification and holding tech companies accountable.
  • With average ownership age falling below 13 and uneven enforcement of age limits on social platforms, advocates are calling for regulations akin to those for alcohol and tobacco to safeguard youth mental health.