A massive study just confirmed it — giving kids smartphones before 13 can have serious mental health consequences. Sapien Labs, in the Journal of Human Development and Capabilities, surveyed over 100,000 young adults. Key finding: those given smartphones before age 13 faced sharply higher risks of depression, anxiety, aggression, and hallucinations in adulthood. Lead researcher Dr. Tara Thiagarajan warns that pre-teen brains are ill-equipped for social media’s relentless demands. Girls showed diminished self-esteem and emotional strength; boys displayed lower empathy and stability—compared to peers who delayed phone use. The team calls for urgent action: treat smartphones for under-13s with the same restrictions as alcohol or tobacco. As evidence mounts and experts raise alarms, this study fuels a worldwide push: safeguard children’s minds by holding off on that first phone. [Tara C. Thiagarajan et al., "Protecting the Developing Mind in a Digital Age: A Global Policy Imperative", 2025,