NEW STUDY LOOKS AT EARLY AGE PHONE USAGE – The study links early phone use to long-term mental health struggles
A major new study is sounding the alarm over what it calls a dangerous trend among today’s youth: early smartphone ownership and its long-term toll on mental health.
Published in the Journal of Human Development and Capabilities, the research by Sapien Labs tracked over 100,000 young adults aged 18 to 24 from 163 countries—and the findings are deeply troubling.
According to the report, receiving a smartphone before the age of 13 significantly increases the risk of suicidal thoughts, emotional instability, and social detachment in early adulthood. For girls, the effects are especially alarming.
Young women who had their first smartphone by the age of 5 or 6 reported a staggering 48% rate of suicidal thoughts. In comparison, that number dropped to 28% for those who got their first phone at 13.
Dr. Tara Thia-gara-jan, lead author and chief scientist at Sapien Labs, warns that this isn’t just about screen time. “Our data shows a clear connection between early smartphone use and a decline in mental health and well-being in adulthood,” she said.
The study found that early exposure to smartphones—and especially the social media they introduce—has a global impact. But English-speaking countries like the U.S., UK, Canada, and Australia reported the most severe mental health outcomes.
