An increasing number of teenagers are using smartphones and social media not just out of interest or leisure, but it has become a habit of “losing control of themselves”. Many children by the age of 10 may have a risk of suicide that is two to three times higher than normal children due to smartphone or social media addiction.
A new longitudinal study found that if teenagers become addicted to smartphones, video games, or social media, the probability of having suicidal thoughts and emotional distress during early adolescence will significantly increase. The research results were published in the “JAMA Network Open” journal on Wednesday, June 25.
Yunyu Xiao, associate professor at Weill Cornell Medical College and the lead author of the study, stated in an email to The Epoch Times, “The most important conclusion is that it is not the duration of screen time that increases the risk, but how they use the phone is key.”
If a child feels uneasy when not using their phone, cannot stop using apps, or is accustomed to using the phone to cope with emotions, they are most likely to exhibit compulsive phone usage behavior, which is often associated with future mental health issues.
This finding shifts the focus of discussion from just the length of screen time to a more specific and in-depth study of smartphone addiction, according to Xiao.
As part of the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development study, they conducted a four-year longitudinal study on over 4,200 children. This is the largest long-term brain development study in US history.
Unlike previous studies focusing on total screen time, researchers analyzed the “development trend of addictive use,” which indicates users becoming increasingly difficult to control, emotionally dependent on screens, and having trouble stopping. This analysis was found to be more effective in predicting suicide risk than simply calculating time spent looking at screens.
Children in the study were asked questions such as: Do you feel sad or uncomfortable when you cannot use your phone? Do you use social media to feel better when you are in a bad mood?
Based on the children’s responses, the research team observed changes over time in their emotional reliance on screens and devices and categorized them into low-risk, rising-risk, and high-risk groups.
The study found that nearly half of the children showed signs of “high” or “gradually increasing” dependence on smartphones, with this behavior typically starting around the age of 10.
By the age of 14, about one-third of children were using social media in an increasingly uncontrollable manner; at the same time, approximately one-quarter exhibited similar behavior with smartphones. These children were 2.4 times more likely to have suicidal thoughts or behaviors compared to those with low addictive usage.
More than 30% of children in early adolescence transitioned from low-risk behavior patterns to high-risk ones, a change that often brings serious consequences.
“It surprised us that there was no clear association between total screen time and suicide-related behaviors or mental health outcomes. In contrast, the development trend of addictive use – including highly and continuously rising compulsive, emotional distress, and difficulty in detachment from screens – is related to increasing the risk of suicidal thoughts or behaviors in adolescents by two to three times,” Yunyu Xiao stated.
The study found that girls are more likely to develop problematic social media usage habits, while boys tend to exhibit addictive behavior with electronic games.
Apart from increasing suicide risk, children excessively reliant on social media often experience anxiety, depression, irritability, or aggressive behavior; whereas those addicted to gaming are more likely to have sadness, isolation, and prolonged low mood.
Although this study does not specifically explain the reasons for these associations, other research has found that children with emotional distress may use screens (like phones or computers) to relieve stress or escape problems, but compulsive use can worsen the situation, hindering them from dealing with complex emotions in a healthier way.
Thomas Kersting, a psychotherapist specializing in treating “technology addiction” in teenagers who was not involved in the study, told The Epoch Times that the emotional and behavioral problems exhibited by these children often exceed the common emotional fluctuations seen in teenagers and are not just usual mood swings.
“If your child becomes aggressive or emotionally explosive when you take away electronic devices, it is not just an attitude issue but withdrawal symptoms. This is an ‘early warning signal’ indicating that the child’s screen dependency is impacting their emotional health,” Kersting said.
The focus should be on how children use screens rather than just calculating their screen time. However, excessively using screens still affects sleep, exercise, face-to-face interactions, and other important daily habits. The study also found that many apps are deliberately designed to be addicting and difficult to stop using.
Victoria Dunckley, a child psychiatrist, mentioned in The Epoch Times interview that children who spend long hours on screens and have uncontrollable usage habits often experience heightened sensitivity and vulnerability in emotions.
“Screens are highly attractive to some children, they are like moths to flames, finding it hard to stop using them, and such children are more prone to psychological and behavioral issues. Even what is considered ‘normal’ screen use is increasingly associated with emotional and behavioral disturbances. However, reducing screen time usually leads to improvement in children’s situations,” Dunckley said.
Dunckley stated that interactive screen activities like social media and gaming overstimulate the nervous system, affecting the brain’s reward system and circadian rhythms, and keeping the body in a tense state for extended periods. She emphasized that these applications exploit the vulnerabilities and natural instincts of teenagers during their developmental stages, making it unrealistic to expect them to self-regulate their phone usage against such deliberately brain-hijacking programs.
Researcher Yunyu Xiao recommended parents to consider the following questions:
1. Is my child gradually distancing themselves from real-life activities and relationships?
2. Does the child feel uneasy or sad when unable to use electronic devices like smartphones, tablets, or computers?
3. Even with the willingness to stop, does the child uncontrollably continue to use the devices?
Kersting pointed out that sudden outbursts or instability in a child’s emotions when phones or games are taken away are warning signs. For example, a usually obedient child displaying anger or engaging in behaviors like yelling, cursing, or physical aggression is a red flag.
Children may start to alienate themselves from the family, showing signs of sorrow or isolation. When these indicators are noticed, parents should take action by setting rules, such as not allowing electronic devices in the bedroom at night and encouraging the child to return to shared living spaces to interact with family.
Dunckley noted that excessive screen use exacerbates emotional issues, and the relationship between “excessive screen use” and “emotional distress” is intertwined and cannot be resolved separately.
“In my experience, it’s hard to effectively address mental health problems without first improving screen use habits,” she said.
She recommended parents understand the impact of screens on their children’s nervous systems, especially regarding emotions, sleep, and concentration. For children with more severe issues, Dunckley suggested a three to four-week “screen abstinence period” to help them rebuild a balance in emotions and behavior.
She pointed out that for addicted children, simply reducing usage often has limited effectiveness, while completely stopping use allows the nervous system to adjust, promoting greater creativity, sociability, and engagement in various activities.
Experts believe the key is not to completely eliminate screens but to help children develop more reasonable and healthy usage habits.
1. Avoid using electronic screens during meals and before bedtime.
2. Encourage children to engage in non-screen activities daily, such as outdoor sports, games, reading physical books, and face-to-face interactions with friends or family.
3. Regularly discuss children’s online experiences with them.
4. Parents should lead by example, demonstrating healthy and moderate usage habits and helping children learn how to manage phone usage time and set boundaries.
Xiao emphasized that parents “should not just focus on the length of time children spend using phones but also consider whether their phone use is affecting their physical and mental health, relationships, and daily life.”