What the research says
10-15 years ago, access to smartphones became more widespread - including among children. At the time, we didn’t have evidence on the impact of smartphones on their mental health and social development. But we do now. The research is clear and compelling that smartphones are not only correlated with rising rates of anxiety, depression, and self-harm, but are actually causing these negative effects on our kids.
The following resources are a good place to start to learn more about the research and evidence.
by Jonathan Haidt
Released in March 2024, Jonathan Haidt’s book dives deep into his research on youth mental health in the age of social media and smartphones. His research has sparked global movements to bring children back into the real-world and reclaim healthy, play-based childhoods.
The Anxious Generation website also includes a wealth of resources for families and educators.
In June 2024, U.S. surgeon general Dr. Vivek Murthy asserted that “the mental health crisis among young people is an emergency — and social media has emerged as an important contributor.” He called on Congress to require warning labels on social media platforms stating their link to significant mental health harms for adolescents. This push builds on recommendations in the 2023 Surgeon General’s Advisory on Social Media and Youth Mental Health, which advised parents to limit phone and social media use at home. Dr. Murthy also recommends that parents “ban together” to delay social media usage (a plug for our Smart About Smartphones movement!)
with Delaney Ruston, MD
Delaney Ruston is the filmmaker of the Screenagers movies, which explore the challenges families face in the digital age. Her podcast explores strategies for raising screen-wise and tech-balanced youth and include interviews with researchers, thought leaders, and kids themselves.
