The release of a major global study, published on 20 July 2025 in the Journal of Human Development and Capabilities, has reignited debates concerning the role of smartphones in childhood development. Researchers at Sapien Labs reported that owning a smartphone before the age of 13 is strongly associated with poorer mental health outcomes in early adulthood, raising pressing public health and policy concerns worldwide.
Global Study From Sapien Labs Researchers Reveals Mental Health Risks of Early Smartphone Use
Background
Sapien Labs is a nonprofit research organization dedicated to understanding the evolving human mind in the context of modern digital and social environments. Established by neuroscientist Tara Thiagarajan, the organization leads the Global Mind Project, which has gathered more than two million mental health profiles across 130 countries.
Researchers T. C. Thiagarajan pursued the aforementioned study due to rising global concerns about youth mental health and its decline over the last decade. They sought to investigate whether early smartphone ownership disrupted crucial developmental processes early in life. They aimed to uncover and analyze broad and population-level evidence.
The methodology relied on the Global Mind Project, which has collected over 2 million mental health profiles worldwide. Researchers focused on more than 100000 individuals aged 18 to 24, using the Mind Health Quotient to assess forty-seven aspects of mental functioning, then analyzing outcomes by reported age of first smartphone ownership.
Findings
The study produced several important findings that illuminate the risks of premature smartphone access. Researchers documented broad declines in mental health, greater levels of psychological distress, higher rates of severe symptoms, erosion of protective functions, and consistent global patterns. The following are the specific details of each:
• Overall Decline in Mental Health: Young adults who received smartphones before age 13 had lower Mind Health Quotient scores. The averages dropped from about 30 points at age 13 to nearly 1 point for those who obtained a device as early as age 5.
• Increased Psychological Distress: The proportion of individuals classified as distressed or struggling rose substantially with earlier smartphone ownership, increasing by nearly 10 percentage points among females and 7 percentage points among males.
• Severe Symptoms Prevalence: Suicidal thoughts, hallucinations, and aggression were high among early users. Suicidal ideation affected 48 percent of females ages 5 or 6, compared to 28 percent of those who first obtained devices at age 13.
• Erosion of Positive Functions: Individuals with early smartphone access showed declines in protective capacities such as self-image, confidence, emotional resilience, and empathy. These suggest that early exposure undermines guards against distress.
• Cross-Cultural Consistency: The association between early smartphone ownership and poorer mental health was consistently observed across different countries and regions. This indicates a global phenomenon rather than a limited pattern.
• Mediation through Social Media: Analysis indicated that early access to social media accounted for about 40 percent of the negative outcomes, with additional contributions from poor family relationships, cyberbullying, and disrupted sleep
Implications
Policy recommendations from the researchers reflected urgency. They called for mandatory digital literacy programs, stricter enforcement of age requirements on social media platforms, limits on access for children, and tiered age-based restrictions on smartphones. These measures were framed as precautionary steps necessary to protect future generations.
Independent experts cautioned against interpretation. They noted limitations including reliance on retrospective self-report, lack of longitudinal design, and potential confounding influences such as family environment or socioeconomic status. Critics argued that while associations were strong, causality could not yet be firmly established from the available evidence.
The authors acknowledged these limitations but maintained that the magnitude and consistency of the findings warranted immediate consideration. They likened the approach to other public health interventions where precautionary regulation preceded definitive proof. Examples noted were tobacco and alcohol restrictions placed to safeguard vulnerable populations.
Several countries have measures in place. These include a policy in Australia banning individuals under 16 years from social media. The study provides population-level evidence that may influence these debates. Whether policymakers pursue restrictions or education campaigns, the research is likely to shape discussions on technology and childhood development.
FURTHER READING AND REFERENCE
- Thiagarajan, T. C., Newson, J. J., and Swaminathan, S. 2025. “Protecting the Developing Mind in a Digital Age: A Global Policy Imperative.” Journal of Human Development and Capabilities. 26(3): 493-504. DOI: 1080/19452829.2025.2518313