Boost Your Child’s Mental Health into Adulthood—Delay the Smartphone

by | May 19, 2023

Want to boost your child’s mental health into adulthood?

Delay the smartphone.

A recent study (January-April 2023) revealed that mental wellbeing in young adulthood (ages 18-24) improves with older age of first smartphone.

 The Global Mind Project surveyed close to 28,000 18–24-year-olds (62% females, 36% males) from 41 countries.

The findings show that the younger a child was when they received their first smartphone, the more likely they were to have mental health struggles into early adulthood.

Credit: Sapian Labs

The study even confirmed that this pattern of a better mental wellbeing due to receiving a smartphone at an older age, persisted among those who had not experienced any childhood trauma or adversity.

18–24-year-olds who acquired their first smartphone (or tablet) at each older age had, on average, better mental wellbeing, and correspondingly fewer problems with suicidal thoughts, feelings of aggression towards others and sense of detachment from reality.

But this isn’t just about problems—delaying the smartphone brings huge benefits!

Credit: Sapien Labs

A person’s Social Self Dimension (how they see themselves and others), improves significantly the older a person is when they get their first smartphone. Including:

  • Mood & Outlook
  • Social Self
  • Adaptability & Resilience
  • Drive & Motivation
  • Cognition
  • Mind-Body Connection

These were all better when youth were older to start using a smartphone or tablet!

If smartphones are the major factor contributing to these trends, why and how would they be doing so?

Smartphones hinder development of social skills and social bonds.

This study confirms what we’ve been saying for years. The constant presence of a mini-computer interferes with a child or teen’s ability to be present, to find their inner self, and to interact face-to-face not only with peers and loved ones, but with difficult situations.

How to Delay

Use our “Am I Ready?” self-evaluation once your child/teen starts asking for a phone. Download it here!

Our Smartphone Stairsteps will help you take a slow-tech approach.

Begin with starter phones or watches.

We’ve used and recommend these starter devices*:

Use the code ‘BST’ for a great discount on any one of these devices! *We are affiliates for each of these products, which means we get a small kickback when you purchase through our link at no cost to you. Thank you!

Prepare Yourself, Your Kids, and Your Teens

If you have younger children (ages 5-13) start with our course Creating a Tech-Healthy Family. If you have pre-teens and/or teens, our course Untangling Teens & Tech is perfect for you!

Let’s give our kids the gift of mental health, not only now,
but for their future!

Celebrating Screen-Free Week

Do you feel like your device controls you? Could you use a little jump-start to form better tech-habits? JOIN US for a screen free week from May 1st- May 7th! Screen-Free week is a world-wide invitation (led by Fairplay) to spend a week without using our digital...

It’s Been Five Years Since I Banned My Devices from the Bedroom

What started as an intention to be a better parent, turned into a five year journey of reclaiming my mornings and evenings from technology, and rediscovering what I call the Three R’s of resetting: rest, relationships, and rejuvenation.

Rethinking Screen Time Rewards

What’s wrong with a chore chart that allows our children to earn their screen time?

Three Ways You Can Tame the Frogs

What do frogs have to do with screens and tech? Click here to find out!

No Regrets: Prepping for a Cell Phone

As I talk with parents “just ahead of me” about screens and technology, I often hear the words: “I wish I would have waited.”

Feature Phone to Smart Phone: A Four-Phase Process

Check out our four-phase process to help your child ease into cell phone ownership!

How-to: Introduction to our Video Channel!

This how-to series will help you establish guidelines and boundaries for screen usage in your home. Join the conversation on YouTube or our IGTV channel!

How-to: Set Up a Family Charging Station (and why!)

Your family charging station serves a more important purpose than charging your device! See how a designated charging station can actually simplify screen usage in your home.

Ready…or Not? A Cell-Phone-Ready Checklist to Use with Your Child

We are excited to share a helpful tool we’ve been using with our family: a simple Cell-Phone-Ready Checklist! This checklist provides tangible and concrete benchmarks to keep expectations clear as you and your child discuss cell phones.

Technoference: When Technology Gets in the Way

As I’ve been researching how my relationship with technology might affect my relationship with my kids, I came across an interesting term: technoference.

How-To: Setting Up a Feature Phone with Ting

Parents often ask us how to get started with a feature phone for their child or teen. Tyler is our in-house techie, and he recorded a quick video to show you how we use Ting as our cell phone service provider.

Is the Gizmo Gadget a Good Fit for Your Family?

Are you wondering if a simplified watch might the solution you’re looking for? Whitney Archibald of howshemoms.com shares her review of the Gizmo Gadget.

How Your Tech Guidelines Can Change As Your Children Grow with Kathy Keller Jones [Audio]

As our children get older, how do we give them more freedom with technology, but not give them free reign? Kathy Keller Jones, developmental psychologist and former kindergarten through eighth grade school counselor, shares her wisdom in this audio post.