Worrying impact of smartphones before age 13
- Sep 9, 2025
- 1 min read
A new study by the Global Mind Project suggests that owning a smartphone before the age of 13 is associated with significantly poorer mental health outcomes later in life.
The survey, which analysed responses from nearly two million people across 163 countries, found that 18- to 24-year-olds who received their first smartphone at 12 or younger scored consistently lower on the Mind Health Quotient (MHQ). The MHQ measures social, emotional, cognitive, and physical well-being to generate an overall “mind health” score.
The symptoms most strongly linked with earlier smartphone ownership included suicidal thoughts, aggression, detachment from reality, and hallucinations. Researchers caution that while this is a correlation rather than direct causation, the findings raise pressing questions about the role of early digital exposure in mental health.