Early smartphone use is related to poor mental health at the age of 24

According to a global study of more than 100,000 people worldwide, young people who received smartphones before the age of 13 are more likely to report suicide thoughts, aggression and reduced emotional resilience.

The study was published in Journal of Human Development and Abilitywhich suggests that earlier smartphone ownership is a bond that significantly reduces scores for mental health before early adulthood, exacerbating urgent issues regarding digital environments powered by AI and social media algorithms.

Early visits, deeper troubles

Using data from the Global Thinking Project, researchers found a sharp drop in “mind health” when their younger people scored points when they first received their smartphones. The average score of individuals who received their first call at the age of 13 was 30, while those who received at the age of 5 had nearly 1.

The study used the Mental Health Quotation (MHQ), a self-assessment that assesses cognitive, emotional, and social functioning, rather than just the classical symptoms of depression or anxiety. The results are consistent between language, culture and continent.

Key discovery of global data

• Youths who use smartphones before the age of 13 are more likely to report hallucinations, aggression and separation from reality.
• Early users have poor self-worth, emotional instability and compassion lowered at a higher rate, especially among men.
• The first year of each young year increases the likelihood of scoring in the “bad” mental health category.

Social media access is the main driver

According to the study, early access to social media explained about 40% of the link between early smartphone use and adult mental health. Other key contributors include:

• Sleep interruption (12%)
• Poor family relationships (13%)
• Cyberbullying (10%)

In English-speaking countries, the risk is greater – probably due to earlier average smartphone ownership and exposure of English online content, which the authors believe may include more harmful material.

“A profound transformation to mental health”

“Our data suggest that early smartphone ownership and the access that social media often brings is associated with profound shifts in mind health and well-being in early adulthood,” said Dr. Tara Thiagarajan, chief writer and neuroscientist at Sapien Labs.

She stressed that the results go beyond traditional mental health diagnosis and touch on difficult-to-detect but socially significant symptoms such as emotional detachment and loss of self-worth.

What can be done? Four emergency policy ideas

To reduce harm, the author recommends the use of preventive measures, suggesting:

1. Mandatory digital literacy and mental health education for young people
2. Strictly enforce age restrictions on social media platforms
3. Legal restrictions on social media access for children under 13 years of age
4. Smartphone access with “Child Safety” alternative

“Waiting for irrefutable evidence … at risk of timely, preventive measures windows,” Thiagarajan warned. The paper argues that smartphone policy should follow a model for alcohol and tobacco: age-based restrictions, public accountability and widespread social participation.

With mental health concerns around the world, especially in Generation Z, this study provides a full warning of data: digital freedom in childhood may constitute the resilience required for adulthood.

Magazine: Journal of Human Development and Ability
doi: 10.1080/19452829.2025.2518313

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