Access and ownership of smartphones among teenagers is wreaking havoc on their mental health. In India, over 90% of rural children have access to smartphones. In cities, 31% of teens own a smartphone. Teens are using smartphones to access social media accounts, play games, and watch content online. Excessive use of smartphones and their ownership are strongly linked with suicidal thoughts, aggression, detachment from reality, and hallucinations.

In this article, we will discuss the negative impacts of smartphone ownership among teens.

Digital shift is significant

According to the Annual Stats of Education Report (ASE) 2023, over 90% of rural Indian children aged 14–18 now have access to a smartphone at home, a sharp rise from 73% in 2017. However, only 9% own a computer, though 85% know how to operate one. There is a clear gender gap — 43.7% of boys have personal access to smartphones compared to 19.8% of girls. Around 90.5% of teens used social media, with boys (93.4%) being slightly more active than girls (87.8%). While nearly two-thirds use their phones for education — such as watching learning videos or solving doubts — entertainment remains the dominant use, reported by 80% of respondents. About 25% use smartphones for services like online payments. Despite high engagement, only half of these teens are familiar with online safety settings. The digital shift is significant, but so are the concerns about access, safety and meaningful usage.

Study data is shocking

A global study published in the Journal of Human Development and Capabilities shows that owning a smartphone before age 13 is associated with poorer mental health and well-being in early adulthood. This research showed that young adults who got their first smartphone before the age of 13 showed lower mental health scores. The earlier they received the device, the lower the scores were. For instance, those who got a smartphone at 13 had an average score of 30, while those who had one by age five scored as low as 1. They found that younger ownership is also associated with diminished self-image, self-worth and confidence and emotional resilience among females. However, males suffered with lower stability and calmness, self-worth and empathy.

Parenting mistake

Indian teens spend an average of 4 to 5 hours per day on screens. This includes time spent on various devices and activities like gaming, video-chatting, online learning and using social media. Over 70% of these adolescents exceed the healthy recommended screen time limits. Ownership of smartphones at such a young age is considered a parenting mistake by experts. With education shifting to an online medium and rising security concerns, parents are gifting this device to their children. They are not even supervising the usage by the children. Parents are unaware of this digital strain. The reason behind this parenting mistake is the lack of open communication with the kids.

Facing mental health issues

The study acknowledges that the COVID-19 pandemic has aggravated this issue. It has become a global issue and is raising concerns about the developmental impact of early smartphone access. Mobile phone use among teens is linked to rising mental health issues like anxiety, depression and sleep disorders. Constant social media exposure fuels comparison and leads to depression. Blue light disrupts sleep. Cyberbullying and online pressure are common but often go unreported. Many teens also show signs of phone addiction, including irritability and restlessness without their devices.

Awareness about digital literacy

The researchers suggest that the impact of early ownership of smartphones is potentially harmful. The harm is too great to ignore, and this needs precautionary measures. They have recommended four areas for the policymakers to address. Firstly, there is a requirement for mandatory education on digital literacy and mental health. Then, it is important to strengthen the social media laws against age violations. They also suggest restricting access to social media platforms and implementing graduated access restrictions for smartphones.

Smartphones may offer access to information and connection, but their unchecked usage is contributing to mental health issues in teens. The negative impact is deeper than anxiety and sleep issues, to addiction and cyberbullying. Addressing this requires awareness, balanced usage, and proactive involvement from parents, schools, and the wider community. It is important to ensure that technology supports well-being rather than undermining it.

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