A new global study indicates that giving smartphones to children before the age of 13 can be detrimental to their mental health, prompting researchers to call for worldwide restrictions on their use by preteens.
The research, published Monday in the Journal of the Human Development and Capabilities, found that early smartphone adoption was associated with a range of negative outcomes, particularly among girls. These included suicidal thoughts, poor emotional regulation, lower self-worth, and a detachment from reality. The study concluded that for every year before age 13 a person received a smartphone, their mental health and well-being in adulthood were likely to be lower.
These effects are likely driven by increased social media use, sleep disruption, cyberbullying, and strained family relationships, according to the study. The findings are based on self-reported survey data from nearly two million people across 163 countries, collected by the nonprofit Sapien Labs.
“This calls for urgent action limiting access of children under 13 to smartphones as well as more nuanced regulation on the digital environment young people are exposed to,” said lead study author Tara Thiagarajan, founder and chief scientist of Sapien Labs.
While the study relied on self-reported data and could not pinpoint specific types of usage causing harm, its conclusions align with a growing body of research. Social psychologist Jonathan Haidt, in his book “The Anxious Generation,” also recommends delaying social media access until age 16. Similarly, research from the United Kingdom has linked social media use during puberty to lower life satisfaction a year later.
Experts suggest that parents can play a crucial role by working together. Groups like Wait Until 8th encourage parents to sign a collective pledge to delay giving their children smartphones until the end of eighth grade.
“Check to see if there is one in your community, and if not and it feels important to you, consider starting one,” advised Melissa Greenberg, a clinical psychologist at Princeton Psychotherapy Center, who was not involved in the study. “Even if people aren’t already talking about it, they may be relieved if you start the conversation.”
However, researchers caution that parental action alone is insufficient without broader societal solutions. Thiagarajan encourages parents to advocate for stronger school policies regarding on-campus smartphone use and to be “a more active voice in the debates on regulation.”
For parents whose children already own smartphones, experts advise against panic. “Don’t be afraid to change course if you feel like what you’ve already done isn’t working for your child or for your family,” Greenberg said. She suggests options like implementing parental controls, switching to a basic phone without internet access, or deleting certain apps.
If making such a change, Greenberg recommends parents explain their reasoning clearly: “When we first gave you your smartphone, there were things we didn’t know about how it might impact you… We have to make some changes because we want to make sure that we’re doing the healthiest thing for you.”
While children may react negatively, she advises parents to remain empathetic but firm, acknowledging that changing habits is difficult for everyone. If a child shows signs of anxiety, low self-worth, or other mental health struggles, parents should seek help from a licensed professional.
