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Khaleej Times
a day ago
- Health
- Khaleej Times
UAE: Early smartphone use tied to mental health issues in kids as young as 8, study finds
A new international study has found that children who use a smartphone before they turn 13 could face several mental health issues. Local experts say the findings of the study are 'deeply troubling' and reflects what they are increasingly seeing in clinics and classrooms. 'It shows a strong link between early smartphone ownership and poorer mental health outcomes in young adulthood including suicidal ideation, emotional dysregulation, and reduced self-esteem,' said Sreevidhya Srinivas, clinical psychologist for children and adolescents at Medcare Camali Clinic. A study by Sapien Labs, published in the Journal of Human Development and Capabilities, found that the earlier a child acquires a smartphone before the age of 13, the more likely they are to experience lower mental health and wellbeing in young adulthood — a trend clinical psychologist Srinivas called 'particularly concerning.' The researchers have now urged global restrictions on smartphone and social media use for children under 13. 'We are seeing a generation that is growing up overstimulated, overwhelmed, and constantly exposed to unrealistic standards of beauty, success, and belonging,' observed Dr Teizeem Dhanji, medical director, consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist at Sage Clinics. 'A local awareness campaign highlighted that around 84 per cent of Emirati students spend over seven hours daily on devices, relating to aggression, ADHD‑like behaviour, emotional numbness, and loneliness," Dr Teizeem added. Mental health issues at a young age According to Sreevidhya, local doctors are seeing 'a growing number' of preteens with issues which may be linked to excessive screen usage. 'We have children as young as 8 or 9 showing signs of anxiety, mood instability, sleep disturbances, and social withdrawal,' she said. 'Many of these symptoms appear closely linked to excessive screen time and early exposure to social media.' Dr Alison Burrows, senior lecturer at Middlesex University Dubai, noted that the risks may be heightened in the UAE due to early exposure to tech. 'In Dubai, where early device ownership is high and children are often exposed to adult-level tech environments from a young age, the stakes may even be higher,' she said. 'But let's be really clear, this isn't about demonising technology but recognizing that children need age-appropriate guardrails and guidance when it comes to smartphone use," she added. She added that many parents feel overwhelmed trying to keep up with fast-evolving apps and digital platforms, making it difficult to implement effective parental controls or content filters. 'Families face peer pressure, fear of missing out, and difficulty monitoring online behavior because apps evolve fast and parents often don't know how to set up their kids' devices and integrate filters, content blockers, or parental controls,' she explained. Shift in playtime For Shifa Yusuff Ali, CEO of children's edutainment company IdeaCrate, the impact of smartphones is especially visible in how playtime has evolved. "Over the last decade, I've seen tablets become a go-to for instant entertainment both at home and on the go,' she said. 'While unstructured play hasn't disappeared, screens can make it feel 'easier' for children to settle into passive activities.' At Orange Wheels — the company's play area — parents often arrive seeking out a screen-free environment. 'Many share how the constant negotiations over 'just five more minutes' of screen time have become a source of stress,' she said. 'Many parents come to me expressing a blend of worry and frustration: they see their children's attention spans shrinking, bedtime routines disrupted by overstimulation, and meltdowns tied directly to screen withdrawal. They confess concerns about posture, eyesight, and a sedentary lifestyle, all while feeling guilty when screens become the easy babysitter," she further noted. Dr Teizeem added that increased use of smartphones have replaced 'real social interactions and connections', while also causing 'lack of creative play in children, an inability to shut down or sleep well, and a significant impact on family relationships or behavioural issues.' The role of tech firms As discussions about screentime increases globally, some tech companies are beginning to take action. 'We believe that smartphones, like any tool, require responsible use, especially among young users,' said Dr Hamza Mohammad, Middle East PR manager at Vivo. "That's why we invest heavily in digital wellbeing features, parental control tools, and education campaigns to encourage healthier screen habits.' Acknowledging that screen addiction is a 'real challenge,' he emphasised the need for a shared responsibility between tech companies and governments to address the issue effectively. 'We welcome thoughtful regulation that protects users especially the younger generation, but we also believe the industry must lead with responsibility. 'Ultimately, a collaborative effort between governments, tech companies, educators, and families is the most effective way to ensure technology benefits future generations," he said.
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Business Standard
23-07-2025
- 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.
Euronews
22-07-2025
- Health
- Euronews
Smartphones lead to ‘suicidal thoughts' in children under 13, study
Children shouldn't have access to smartphones until the age of 13, according to a new global study. Those who used smartphones before they turned 13 were more likely to have suicidal thoughts, bad emotional regulation, lower self-worth, aggression, and detachment from reality, according to the study published in the Journal of the Human Development and Capabilities. Girls were more impacted by smartphone use than boys, with 9.5 per cent of female respondents considered 'struggling' with their mental health compared to 7 per cent of males, irrespective of their country of origin, the research added. Kids under 13 were more likely to experience sleep disruptions, cyberbullying and negative family relationships, the study found. Restrict smartphones like alcohol, researchers say The study drew data from the self-reported mental health profiles of 100,000 young people between the ages of 18-24. The study was conducted by a team from the research non-profit Sapien Labs. The researchers generated an overall "mind health" score for each profile based on 47 social, emotional, cognitive, and physical functions. The mind health scores got worse the longer a child had access to a smartphone, the research continued. For example, the score of a child who received a phone at 13 dropped from 30 to just one for those who received a phone at five years old. The results were worse for the 18-20 year-olds than the 21-24 cohort in the responses, which could be due to prolonged screen exposure during the COVID-19 pandemic, the study said. However, the results of smartphone use in under 13s are consistent despite the geographical and social differences that kids have. Lead author Tara Thiagarajan said she'd like to see smartphones restricted to those under 13 and regulated like alcohol and tobacco by government authorities. The move should be paired with restrictions on social media platforms as well as 'mandating digital literacy education and enforcing corporate accountability'. 'I was initially surprised by how strong the results are,' Thiagarajan 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'. What regulations are already in place against cellphones? Most of the bans so far against cellphones are happening in Europe's schools, with partial bans in French, Dutch, British, Italian, Hungarian, Spanish, Irish, Swedish, Belgian, Greek, Latvian, Luxembourgish and Finnish classrooms. Some of these countries, including France, the Netherlands, Italy, Luxembourg and some Spanish regions, have complete school-wide bans on mobile phones so they cannot be used at any point during the day. Other European countries, such as Denmark, Cyprus, Bulgaria, and Portugal, are also considering further restrictions on cellphones. For social media, France's artificial intelligence (AI) minister also proposed a European-wide ban on the use of social media for those under 15 years old. Several EU laws, such as the Digital Service Act, the Audiovisual Media Services Directive, and the General Data Protection Regulation, include provisions to shield children from harmful content and protect their data. Last month, EU lawmakers voted to criminalise AI-generated child abuse images, online grooming, livestreaming, sextortion and the age of consent.
Gulf Today
22-07-2025
- Health
- Gulf Today
Smartphones before the age of 13 may raise suicidal thoughts, aggression risk in youth: Study
Children who own a smartphone before the age of 13 are more likely to experience poorer mental health and well-being in early adulthood, according to a global study of more than 100,000 young people released on Monday. The study, published in the Journal of Human Development and Capabilities, 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. Smartphones give early social media access and increase the risks of cyberbullying, disrupted sleep, and poor family relationships by adulthood, the team said. "Our data indicates that early smartphone ownership -- and the social media access it often brings -- is linked with a profound shift in mental health and well-being in early adulthood," said lead author neuroscientist Dr. Tara Thiagarajan, the founder and Chief Scientist of US-based Sapien Labs. Thiagarajan called for urgent action to protect the mental health of future generations, as their symptoms are not the traditional depression and anxiety, and can be missed by studies using standard screening procedures. The researchers urged policymakers to adopt a precautionary approach, similar to regulations on alcohol and tobacco, by restricting smartphone access for under-13s. They also called for mandating digital literacy education and enforcing corporate accountability. In recent years, several countries have banned or restricted the use of cell phones in institutions, including France, the Netherlands, Italy, and New Zealand. Several states in the US have also passed legislation requiring schools to have policies that at least limit access to smartphones for children. For the study, the team at Sapiens mapped the data on 100,000 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. Young adults who received their first smartphone before age 13 had lower MHQ scores, with scores progressively declining the younger the age of first ownership. Younger ownership was also linked with diminished self-image, self-worth, and confidence, and emotional resilience among females, and lower stability, calmness, self-worth, and empathy among males. "Our evidence suggests that childhood smartphone ownership, an early gateway into AI-powered digital environments, is profoundly diminishing mental health and well-being in adulthood, with deep consequences for individual agency and societal flourishing," Thiagarajan said. Indo-Asian News Service
Egypt Independent
21-07-2025
- Health
- Egypt Independent
Don't give children under age 13 smartphones, new research says
Editor's note: If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, help is available. Dial or text 988 or visit for free and confidential support. Parents should avoid preteens' use of smartphones and social media, according to new research. A study released Monday found that using smartphones before age 13 could damage kids' mental health. Smartphone use by children younger than 13 was associated with suicidal thoughts, worse emotional regulation, lower self-worth and detachment from reality, especially among girls, according to the study, which was published in the Journal of the Human Development and Capabilities. For every year before age 13 that a person acquired a smartphone, their mental health and well-being were likely to be lower, the study found. That's likely because the kids who used smartphones before turning 13 accessed social media more and experienced sleep disruptions, cyberbullying and negative family relationships, according to the study. The data is based on self-reports in a survey of nearly two million people in 163 countries. The results were so stark that the researchers called for global restrictions to prevent children younger than 13 from using smartphones and social media. '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, the nonprofit that runs the survey. While previous research focused on how smartphone use is related to anxiety and depression, this survey looked at symptoms not commonly studied, including emotional regulation and self-worth, and found they are very significant, said Thiagarajan, who is based in Arlington, Virginia. The results were self-reported, which means they weren't independently verified by researchers. In addition, the study can't pinpoint what types of smartphone use drove the results and can't account for how they might change as technologies evolve, Thiagarajan said. Hold off on social media until 16 Still, this research certainly has me convinced it's a terrible idea to give kids smartphones before age 13. When I speak to parents in schools, parent groups and other community spaces, I suggest not letting kids use social media until age 16. Solid research out of the United Kingdom shows that using social media during puberty is associated with lower life-satisfaction a year later. Social psychologist Jonathan Haidt also suggested waiting until age 16 to let kids use social media in his best-selling book 'The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness.' While it may seem near impossible to hold off this long, it won't be if we talk to the parents of our kids' friends and collectively agree not to allow our children to use social apps until this age. In all of my talks across the country as an expert on how social media affects women and girls, I have yet to meet a single parent or guardian who has said they're excited for their kid to use social media. Instead, they worry their kids will be deprived of social opportunities if they're not on social media. That's why getting the parents of their friends involved is the key. The group Wait Until 8th has created a pledge parents can sign collectively promising not to let kids use smartphones until the end of eighth grade. Other groups have created similar pledges. 'Check to see if there is one in your community, and if not and it feels important to you, consider starting one,' said Melissa Greenberg, a clinical psychologist at Princeton Psychotherapy Center in New Jersey 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.' In addition, 'parents could seek schools for their children with stronger policies around smartphones on campus' or push for better policies in their kids' schools, Thiagarajan said. But the researchers warned that parents can't solve these problems individually without societal solutions. After all, even if I don't allow my daughters to use social media before age 16 and convince their friends' parents to do the same, that won't stop them from being exposed to these apps by other kids on places like the school bus or after-school events. That's why parents 'could also be a more active voice in the debates on regulation,' Thiagarajan said. Check in with your kids If you have already let your child use a smartphone before age 13 or are just worried about the results, 'don't panic,' Greenberg said. 'If you are concerned but don't notice any of these symptoms in your child, you can still talk to them to let them know that some people struggle with anxiety, low self-worth and intense emotions,' she said. 'You can let them know that there is help available should they ever need it, and you can invite them to come to you if they are ever struggling or need support.' Parents can still make changes if their children already have smartphones, Kara Alaimo says. StockPlanets/E+/Getty Images If you do notice these symptoms in your child, find a licensed professional who can help, she said. It's OK to make changes What happens if your child already has a smartphone? 'You may feel stuck when you read things like this because you feel like you can't go back,' Greenberg said. That's not true. '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,' she said. Parents can think about options such as using parental controls, switching to a flip phone, or deleting apps or features, Greenberg said. Of course, kids may not react pleasantly to such a change, but don't let that stop you from acting if you think it would benefit them, she said. Parents can use this script, Greenberg suggested: 'When we first gave you your smartphone, there were things we didn't know about how it might impact you. There are a lot of scientists and doctors who are doing research on the effects smartphones are having on kids, and we're learning a lot more than we knew before. We have to make some changes because we want to make sure that we're doing the healthiest thing for you.' If kids get upset, be sympathetic to their concerns, she said. 'Adults don't always respond in the most mature way when you take something away or ask them to change a habit, and we can't expect that our kids will either,' Greenberg said. She suggested parents talk about your own struggles to get your smartphone use right as a way of (literally) connecting and acknowledging that it's difficult for all of us to resist their pull. What can you do now that you know it could be quite dangerous to allow young kids to use smartphones? If your child doesn't yet have one, start talking to other parents in your community to collectively agree not to let your kids get them until they're older. Keeping our kids away from smartphones could be one of the smartest decisions parents make. EDITOR'S NOTE: Kara Alaimo is an associate professor of communication at Fairleigh Dickinson University. Her book 'Over the Influence: Why Social Media Is Toxic for Women and Girls — And How We Can Take It Back' was published in 2024.
