Particle.news
Download on the App Store
6 ARTICLES
·
7h ago

Early Smartphone Ownership Linked to Mental Health Challenges in Young Adults

Researchers warn that current evidence justifies precautionary restrictions on under-13 smartphone access despite unresolved questions about causation

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.
Image
Image

Overview

  • The global study published July 21 in the peer-reviewed Journal of Human Development and Capabilities analyzed data from more than 100,000 18- to 24-year-olds worldwide
  • Respondents who owned their first smartphone before age 13 reported elevated instances of suicidal thoughts, aggression, detachment from reality, poor emotional regulation, low self-worth
  • Early social media access explained roughly 40% of the observed link, with cyberbullying, sleep disruption, poor family relationships accounting for additional effects
  • The association between preteen device ownership and adult mental health challenges was consistent across cultures, languages, geographic regions
  • Lead authors recommend restricting smartphones for under-13s, mandating digital literacy education, increasing corporate accountability despite the study’s inability to prove causation