Parents, Take Note! New Research Links Smartphones To Hallucinations In Teens (Image Credits: iStock)
Do your parents blame your phone for everything? Turns out, they might not be entirely wrong. While phones are often seen as essential tools for staying connected, new research sheds light on their darker side. A recent study by Sapien Labs, conducted collaboratively by researchers from the USA and India, reveals that smartphones could significantly harm teenagers' mental health—and even cause hallucinations.
Smartphones and Teen Mental HealthThe study examined the mental health of 10,475 teenagers in the US and India during 2024. The findings show a worrying trend: mental health issues such as aggression, sadness, and hallucinations are rising, especially among younger teens. The study shows that teens who receive their first smartphones at an earlier age are more likely to experience these problems.
Younger adolescents, such as 13-year-olds, appear to be the most affected. They report poorer mental health compared to older teens, such as 17-year-olds. For instance, 56 per cent of teens aged 13–17 are struggling with or distressed by mental health issues that interfere with their daily lives. By contrast, less than 20 per cent of adults aged 55 and above report similar struggles.
The Gender Divide
The mental health crisis is particularly severe among female adolescents. While 48 per cent of teenage boys aged 13–17 struggle with mental health, the figure rises to 65 per cent for teenage girls. The decline in mental health is even more pronounced in younger girls, with 13-year-olds experiencing far worse conditions than their older counterparts.
Common Struggles Among Teens
Feelings of sadness, fear, and guilt are widespread among adolescents, with over half reporting that these emotions interfere with their daily activities. In both India and the US, younger teens are more likely to experience these turbulent emotions. However, the issues don’t stop there.
Phones keep teenagers so engrossed that they sometimes detach from reality. This leads to more dangerous outcomes, including aggression, irritability, and even hallucinations. According to the study, 13-year-olds are 20 per cent more likely to hallucinate and 40 per cent more likely to exhibit aggressive or hostile behaviour than 17-year-olds.
The Role of Early Smartphone Usage
One of the study’s key findings is that early smartphone use significantly impacts mental health. Younger teens are getting their first phones earlier than older ones, which may contribute to their worsening mental health.
In the US, 13-year-olds typically receive their first smartphone at age 10, with 24 per cent getting it even earlier. For comparison, 17-year-olds reported getting their phones around age 12, with only 10 per cent having received them before age 10. The trend is similar in India, where 13-year-olds usually get their first phone at age 11, while 17-year-olds receive theirs at around 14.
This early access to smartphones has created a digital-first culture where young teens spend extended hours on their devices. This excessive screen time impacts their ability to connect with the real world and contributes to their mental health struggles.
Beyond the Usual Concerns
While issues like anxiety and depression have long been linked to smartphone use, the study reveals more alarming consequences, such as hallucinations and aggressive behaviour. These lesser-known side effects highlight the urgent need for parents and policymakers to address the issue of early smartphone use.
What Can Be Done?
The findings of this study show the importance of monitoring teens’ screen time and delaying the age at which they receive their first smartphone. Parents should encourage balanced habits, including outdoor activities, face-to-face social interactions, and hobbies that don’t involve screens.
In today’s tech-driven world, smartphones are a double-edged sword. While they offer numerous benefits, this study reminds us of the potential risks—especially for younger teens. It’s time to rethink how and when children are introduced to technology to ensure their mental health and overall well-being.
The next time your parents blame your phone for something, you might want to give their concerns a second thought—it turns out they might be right after all.
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