Latest news with #JournalofHumanDevelopmentandCapabilities
Mint
3 days ago
- Health
- Mint
Mental health at risk! Phones for kids under 13 ‘shape the way they think,' warn experts
Smartphones are influencing how children under 13, especially girls, think and develop, and experts have warned that this early exposure could lead to poorer mental health outcomes later in life. One of the study's authors, Tara Thiagarajan, said that more exposure to smartphones impacts younger children psychologically and alters the way they think and perceive the world. 'The younger the child gets a smartphone, the more exposure to all this impacts them psychologically and shapes the way they think and view the world,' she told ABC News. The study, published in the Journal of Human Development and Capabilities, analysed self-reported questionnaire results from more than 1,00,000 young adults between the ages of 18 and 24. It was based on questions about mental health symptoms, such as having aggression, feelings of detachment, hallucinations and suicidal thoughts. The study revealed that those who were given smartphones at an earlier age were associated with worse mental health outcomes. The study found that owning smartphones early, before 13 years of age, was associated with feelings of lower self-image and lower self-worth in both girls and boys. It resulted in lower emotional resilience and confidence for girls, while the boys reported feeling less calm, less stable, and less empathetic. Nearly 48% of young women who had smartphones by age 5 or 6 reported experiencing severe suicidal thoughts—compared to 28% among those who got their first phone at 13 or later. Among young men, the figures were 31% for early phone users and 20% for those who got phones at 13 or older. Experts have attributed the differences between women's and men's mental health symptoms to social media usage. Other factors that impacted the mental health outcomes were cyberbullying, poor sleep and poor family relationships. To protect children's mental health, experts urge restrictions on smartphone and social media use for those under 13, alongside better digital education and greater corporate responsibility. 'Ideally, children should not have a smartphone until age 14, and when they do get a smartphone, parents should take the time to discuss with their children how to interact on the Internet and explain the consequences of doing various things,' Tara said. According to the American Academy of Paediatrics, as cited by ABC News, families must follow the 5 C's of media use:
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Dangers of smartphone usage in kids below 13: Study reveals shocking details
Early exposure to social media comes with significant downsides. Without the maturity to process what they see or the filters to shield them from harmful content, children are vulnerable to mental health challenges and unhealthy body image issues. Also read | New research shows reducing screen time drastically improves your child's mental wellbeing in just 2 weeks Smartphone usage can affect children below the age of 13. (Shutterstock) In a new study published in Journal of Human Development and Capabilities on July 20, researchers analysed data from more than 100,000 young adults between the ages of 18 and 24, to understand how social media usage can affect children below the age of 13. Findings of the study The questionnaires to the participants asked questions to understand the mental health outcomes of social media users. Mental health symptoms such as aggression, feelings of detachment, hallucinations, and suicidal thoughts were tracked in the participants. Tara Thiagarajan, one of the study's authors, told ABC News, 'The younger the child gets a smartphone, the more exposure to all this impacts them psychologically and shapes the way they think and view the world.' Also read | Screen time and children: When to introduce it and how much is appropriate Smartphone use in kids can lead to suicidal thoughts.(Pexels) The study revealed shocking details The study authors observed a steep increase of suicidal thoughts in young women who were exposed to smartphone usage at an early age of 5 or 6. in young men, 31 percent of them reported having suicidal thoughts when exposed to smartphones at the age of 5 or 6. 20 percent of the male participants who started using smartphones at the age of 13 reported having severe suicidal thoughts. Restrict social media usage for children below 13 The study authors recommended parents to restrict social media and smartphone usage in kids below the age of 13. 'Ideally, children should not have a smartphone until age 14, and when they do get a smartphone, parents should take the time to discuss with their children how to interact on the Internet and explain the consequences of doing various things,' Tara Thiagarajan told ABC News. Also read | Toddler to teenager: Know how excessive screen time can slow children's growth and development Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.
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Business Standard
5 days ago
- Health
- Business Standard
Smartphones before 13? Study warns of long-term mental health issues
Children who start using smartphones before the age of 13 may be at a higher risk of developing mental health issues as young adults, says a new study published in the Journal of Human Development and Capabilities. The study is based on analysis of data from the Global Mind Project, which has surveyed nearly two million people across 163 countries. What does the study say? Researchers from the Sapien Labs mapped the data on young adults using the Mind Health Quotient (MHQ), a self-assessment tool that measures social, emotional, cognitive, and physical well-being, to generate an overall mental health score. The study revealed a striking pattern - the earlier a person received their first smartphone, the worse their mental health outcomes tended to be by early adulthood. A key finding shows that younger age groups have worse mental health than older ones, with 41 per cent of individuals in the 18–34 age group experiencing issues that seriously affect their daily lives Forty-eight per cent of females aged 18–24 who got a smartphone at age five or six report having suicidal thoughts. In comparison, only 28 per cent of females who got a smartphone at age 13 report the same. For males, 31 per cent who got a phone at age five or six report suicidal thoughts. This dropped to 20 per cent for those who got a phone at 13. Age of access to social media accounted for about 40 per cent of the overall association between age of smartphone ownership and mental health. The study also observed that in English-speaking countries, young adults got access to smartphones and social media earlier than those in Africa, South Asia, and the Middle East. On average, they received their first smartphone at age 11, compared to 14–16 in other regions. Mental health red flags The research found that early users are more likely to experience: Suicidal thoughts Low self-worth Social withdrawal Aggressive behaviour Children who began using smartphones at a young age were also more likely to feel disconnected from others and reported difficulty forming meaningful relationships. The data shows that getting a smartphone before age 13 often leads to earlier use of social media, despite age restrictions. This early access is linked to higher chances of cyberbullying, sexual abuse, weaker family bonds, and poor sleep. The experts also note that while the Covid-19 pandemic may have amplified this association, the consistency of these trends across global regions points to a broader developmental impact of early smartphone access. Why timing matters Experts believe that early adolescence is a sensitive period for brain development. Excessive screen time, especially on social media and messaging apps, may interfere with learning real-world social cues and coping mechanisms. Overstimulation, cyberbullying, and unrealistic social comparisons could all be contributing factors to the observed mental health issues. Dr Tara Thiagarajan, lead author of the study, warned that the earlier children are immersed in digital environments, the greater the risk of psychological disruption down the line. If more children keep getting smartphones and using social media at younger ages, the impact could be serious. Projections suggest that this trend alone may cause mental health issues in nearly one-third of the next generation. A call for digital boundaries The study says that limiting smartphone and social media use during childhood could have major benefits- It may reduce serious mental health issues in up to 8.5 per cent of young people. It could lower the rate of suicidal thoughts by up to 20 per cent. It may also improve emotional resilience and self-confidence in around 12 per cent of the younger population. Proposed policy measures- 1. Mandatory digital literacy and mental health education Introduce compulsory lessons in schools covering online safety, cyberbullying, algorithm awareness, and predator risks. This prepares children for responsible social media use and builds digital confidence. 2. Enforce age rules and hold tech companies accountable Ensure tech platforms follow age restrictions through better verification and penalties for violations. Like tobacco or alcohol regulations, corporate responsibility can reduce harm and ease pressure on parents. 3. Restrict social media for people under 13 Strictly enforce age 13+ rules on social platforms by blocking access on devices used by children. While verification and monitoring are challenges, this reinforces existing legal limits. 4. Limit smartphone access with safer alternatives Delay personal smartphone access and offer basic 'kid-friendly' phones without social media or addictive content to meet communication and learning needs without the risks. Enforcement may be difficult, but the long-term benefits are significant. What parents can do Parents and guardians play a key role in shaping digital habits. Here are some ways to protect young minds: Delay giving a smartphone until the teen years Encourage outdoor play and face-to-face social activities Set daily screen time limits Talk openly about online experiences and feelings Use parental controls and monitor app usage Experts recommend delaying smartphone access until ages 14 to 18, encouraging more face-to-face interactions, and promoting screen-free routines at home and in schools.
UPI
5 days ago
- Health
- UPI
Early smartphone access harms developing minds, study warns
Early exposure to toxic social media explains much of the link between young smartphone access and poorer mental health, researchers said. Other contributing factors may include cyberbullying, disrupted sleep and poor family relationships. Photo by Andrea Piacquadio/ Pexels July 22 (UPI) -- Care about your kid's well being? Then best not give them a smartphone until they're a full-fledged teenager, a major new study says. Kids given a smartphone when they were younger than 13 tend to have poorer mental health and well-being, researchers report in the Journal of Human Development and Capabilities. Specifically, people between 18 and 24 who got their first smartphone at 12 or younger had higher odds of suicidal thoughts, aggression, detachment from reality, poorer emotional regulation and low self-worth, researchers report. Early exposure to toxic social media explains much of the link between young smartphone access and poorer mental health, researchers said. Other contributing factors may include cyberbullying, disrupted sleep and poor family relationships. "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," says lead researcher Tara Thiagarajan, chief scientist of Sapien Labs, said in a news release. "I was initially surprised by how strong the results are," she said. "However, when you give it due consideration, it does begin to make sense that the younger developing mind is more compromised by the online environment given their vulnerability and lack of worldly experience." For the study, researchers analyzed data from more than 100,000 young adults around the world as part of the Global Mind Project, an ongoing research effort aimed at assessing the effects of modern society on mental health. Each of the participants filled out a questionnaire to help determine their Mind Health Quotient (MHQ) - a measurement of their social, emotional, cognitive and physical well-being. The team focused on members of Generation Z born between 1997 and 2012 who were the first to grow up with smartphones and social media from early childhood. Results show that young adults who got their first smartphone before becoming teens had lower MHQ scores than those who got a phone later. In addition, the younger a person got their first smartphone, the worse their mental health and overall well-being, researchers said. For example, about half (48%) of girls who got a smartphone at age 5 or 6 report suicidal thoughts, compared with 28% who got a smartphone at 13, the study says. Girls who got smartphones at a young age were more likely to have diminished self-image, self-worth and confidence, as well as less emotional resilience, researchers found. Meanwhile, boys were more likely to have lower stability, self-worth and empathy. Looking into potential causes, researchers found that early access to social media explains about 40% of the link between earlier smartphone ownership and poorer mental health in young adulthood. The results bolster growing concerns regarding how AI-driven social media algorithms amplify harmful content and encourage children to compare their lives to those of apparently happier and better-off influencers, researchers argue. Poor family relationships (13%), disrupted sleep (12%) and cyberbullying (10%) also contributed to the link, the study says. "Based on these findings, and 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, by restricting smartphone access for under 13s, mandating digital literacy education and enforcing corporate accountability," Thiagarajan said. Several countries have already banned or restricted cell phone use in schools, including France, the Netherlands, Italy and New Zealand, researchers noted. In the U.S., Alabama, Arkansas, Nebraska, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma and West Virginia have passed legislation requiring schools to limit or ban smartphones, researchers added. "Our evidence suggests childhood smartphone ownership, an early gateway into AI-powered digital environments, is profoundly diminishing mind health and well-being in adulthood with deep consequences for individual agency and societal flourishing," Thiagarajan said. "That said, I think it is also important to point out that smartphones and social media are not the only assault to mental health and crisis facing younger adults," she said. "It explains some of the overall decline but not all of it." The study can't draw a direct cause-and-effect link between early smartphone access and poorer mental health as a young adult, researchers noted. More research is needed to confirm this link and explore its causes. "Now, while more research is needed to unravel the causal mechanisms, waiting for irrefutable proof in the face of these population-level findings unfortunately risks missing the window for timely, preventative action," Thiagarajan said. More information Johns Hopkins Medicine has more on social media and children's mental health. Copyright © 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Kids who own smartphones before age 13 have worse mental health outcomes: Study
Children, especially girls, who own smartphones before they are 13 years old may have worse mental health outcomes when they're older, a new study suggests. The study, published Sunday in the Journal of Human Development and Capabilities, analyzed self-reported questionnaire results from more than 100,000 young adults between the ages of 18 and 24. The questionnaire asked respondents about mental health symptoms, such as having aggression, feelings of detachment, hallucinations and suicidal thoughts. Those who were given smartphones at an earlier age were associated with worse mental health outcomes for every year of smartphone ownership before the age of 13. Early smartphone ownership was associated with feelings of lower self-image and lower self-worth in both girls and boys. Girls reported lower emotional resilience and lower confidence, while boys reported feeling less calm, less stable and less empathetic. "The younger the child gets a smartphone, the more exposure to all this impacts them psychologically and shapes the way they think and view the world," Tara Thiagarajan, one of the study's authors, told ABC News in an emailed statement. About 48% of young women who had smartphones by 5 or 6 years old reported having severe suicidal thoughts, compared to 28% of females who had smartphones by 13 or older. In young men, 31% of those who had smartphones by 5 or 6 years old reported having severe suicidal thoughts and 20% of males who had smartphones by 13 or older reported having severe suicidal thoughts. Cellphone bans in schools take center stage amid mental health crisis Study authors attributed the differences between young women's and young men's mental health symptoms to social media usage. Other factors that seemed to impact mental health outcomes were cyberbullying, poor sleep and poor family relationships. The study's authors recommended restricting smartphone and social media access for kids under 13, promoting digital literacy education and corporate accountability. "Ideally, children should not have a smartphone until age 14, and when they do get a smartphone, parents should take the time to discuss with their children how to interact on the Internet and explain the consequences of doing various things," Thiagarajan added. ABC News' Dr. Tara Narula also said on "Good Morning America" Monday that limiting kids' access to social media appears to be a key step in protecting children and their mental health outcomes. "The longer we can push off allowing our kids to be on social media, we are learning, the better," Narula said. "I think lots of families are getting creative … landlines …. flip phones for kids [are] maybe an option so that they can have access to communicating without all the other things that come with smartphones." Social psychologist says kids shouldn't have smartphones before high school The study's findings come amid an effort led by social psychologist Jonathan Haidt, author of "Anxious Generation," to limit kids' smartphone use due to the impact on their mental health. Haidt has proposed setting nationwide "norms" or guidelines, including not giving children a smartphone before high school, no social media before age 16 and establishing schools as phone-free zones. Pediatrician Dr. Natasha Burgert also recommended that parents demonstrate to children how to use smartphones responsibly. "Children watch everything you do -- and that doesn't stop until they leave your house," Burgert told ABC News via email. "Connect authentically and meaningfully for a few minutes every day, and show your children that the humans we live with are more important and worthy of our attention than our phones." The American Academy of Pediatrics also recommends families follow the 5 C's of media use, including teaching kids and teens how to be safe online, since content and advertisements may be targeting an older audience. Child - Consider your child and their personality. What media are they drawn to and how do they react to it? Content - Consider the content of the media your child consumes. Encourage them to consider good media sources. Calm - Help your child learn how to manage their emotions, including without the help of media. Crowding out - Consider what your family would like to spend more quality time doing, besides consuming media. Communication - Discuss media with children early and often and encourage learning digital literacy. Solve the daily Crossword
