Global study links early smartphone ownership with poorer mental health in young adults

Owning a smartphone before age 13 is associated with poorer mental health and well-being in early adulthood, according to a global study of more than 100,000 young people. - Taylor & Francis

• Published today in the Journal of Human Development and Capabilities, the study found that 18- to 24-year-olds who had received their first smartphone at age 12 or younger were more likely to report suicidal thoughts, aggression, detachment from reality, poorer emotional regulation, and low self-worth.
• The data also shows evidence that these effects of smartphone ownership at an early age are in large part associated with early social media access and higher risks of cyberbullying, disrupted sleep, and poor family relationships by adulthood...