This paper links early smartphone ownership before age 13 to poorer mental health in young adulthood, especially for girls. Using global data, it highlights risks like cyberbullying, sleep disruption, and social media harm, and calls for age-based restrictions and stronger digital safeguards.

The paper “Protecting the Developing Mind in a Digital Age: A Global Policy Imperative” was published on July 21, 2025, in the peer‑reviewed Journal of Human Development and Capabilities: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/19452829.2025.2518313#abstract

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