Owning a smartphone before age 13 is associated with poorer mental health and well-being in early adulthood, according to a global study of more than 100,000 young people.
it is not stated what about social media is so harmful?
They’re listing “mediating factors”; which is not exclusive to bad things even if it contributes to bad outcomes.
Our analysis reveals that receiving a smartphone before age 13 is associated with poorer mind health outcomes in young adulthood, particularly among females, including suicidal thoughts, detachment from reality, poorer emotional regulation, and diminished self-worth. These correlations are mediated through several factors, including social media access, cyberbullying, disrupted sleep, and poor family relationships.
What this is saying is:
“receiving a smartphone before age 13” + “social media access, cyberbullying, disrupted sleep, and poor family relationships” = “poorer mind health outcomes in young adulthood, particularly among females, including suicidal thoughts, detachment from reality, poorer emotional regulation, and diminished self-worth.”
The cellphone in isolation isn’t harmful. It’s the access to social media intended for adults, the 24/7 avenue for cyberbullying, the physiological interruptions to circadian rhythm due to screen time, and exasperated emotional damage of poor family dynamics where cellphones replace face to face intimacy.
They’re listing “mediating factors”; which is not exclusive to bad things even if it contributes to bad outcomes.
What this is saying is:
“receiving a smartphone before age 13” + “social media access, cyberbullying, disrupted sleep, and poor family relationships” = “poorer mind health outcomes in young adulthood, particularly among females, including suicidal thoughts, detachment from reality, poorer emotional regulation, and diminished self-worth.”
The cellphone in isolation isn’t harmful. It’s the access to social media intended for adults, the 24/7 avenue for cyberbullying, the physiological interruptions to circadian rhythm due to screen time, and exasperated emotional damage of poor family dynamics where cellphones replace face to face intimacy.