Getting a smartphone before the age of 13 may have lasting consequences for mental health, according to a new study that analyzed data from more than 100,000 young people worldwide.
The research, published in the Journal of Human Development and Capabilities, found that early smartphone ownership was linked to higher risks of suicidal thoughts, aggression, detachment from reality, low self-worth and difficulty regulating emotions in early adulthood.
The study revealed that 18–24-year-olds who received their first smartphone at age 12 or younger were significantly more likely to report serious mental health struggles. The younger the age of first ownership, the worse the outcomes.
Unhappy Teenage Girl With Mobile Phone Lying On Bed At Home Anxious About Social Media Online Bullying And Using Phone Too Much.
Unhappy Teenage Girl With Mobile Phone Lying On Bed At Home Anxious About Social Media Online Bullying And Using Phone Too Much.
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For example, young adults who got a smartphone at age 13 scored an average of 30 on the Mind Health Quotient (MHQ), a global assessment of social, emotional and cognitive wellbeing. For those who owned a smartphone at age five, the score plummeted to 1.
Moreover, the percentage of young people classified as “distressed or struggling” rose by nearly 10 percent for girls and seven percent for boys. These patterns were consistent across cultures and regions, suggesting a universal developmental effect.
The researchers traced much of the damage to early access to social media, which explained about 40 percent of the link between smartphones and later mental health outcomes. Other contributing factors included cyberbullying (10 percent), disrupted sleep (12 percent) and poor family relationships (13 percent).
“Our data indicate that early smartphone ownership—and the social media access it often brings—is linked with a profound shift in mind health and wellbeing in early adulthood,” lead author Tara Thiagarajan, neuroscientist of Sapien Labs said in a statement.
Based on the findings, Sapien Labs—which runs the Global Mind Project and maintains the world’s largest database on mental wellbeing—is calling for sweeping policy changes to protect children.
The researchers outlined four urgent priorities for policymakers:
- Mandate digital literacy and mental health education;
- Strengthen enforcement of age restrictions on social media, with accountability for tech companies;
- Restrict access to social media platforms for under 13s;
- Implement graduated restrictions on smartphone ownership.
“With the age of first smartphones now well under age 13 across the world, we urge policymakers to adopt a precautionary approach, similar to regulations on alcohol and tobacco,” said Thiagarajan.
Smartphone and social media use have long raised concerns about sleep loss, online comparison and exposure to harmful content.
While many platforms set a minimum age of 13, enforcement is inconsistent—and the average age of first smartphone ownership continues to fall.
Governments are beginning to respond. Several countries, including France, the Italy, Netherlands and New Zealand have banned or restricted phones in schools.
In the U.S., New York recently became the largest state to announce a ban, joining Alabama, Arkansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma and West Virginia, all of which require schools to curb smartphone use.
While the study cannot yet prove direct causation, the scale and consistency of the results leave researchers concerned.
“I was initially surprised by how strong the results are,” Thiagarajan said. But considering that younger developing minds are more vulnerable to the online environment, it makes sense, she added.
While smartphones and social media are not the only assault to mental health and crisis facing younger adults, it’s a major factor, Thiagarajan said.
“Waiting for irrefutable proof in the face of these population-level findings unfortunately risks missing the window for timely, preventative action,” she added.
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Reference
Thiagarajan, T. C., Newson, J. J., & Swaminathan, S. (2025). Protecting the Developing Mind in a Digital Age: A Global Policy Imperative. Journal of Human Development and Capabilities. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/19452829.2025.2518313