The last American sociologist book Jonathan Haidt, The anxious generationhas generated a certain stir by directly pointing to mobile phones as the cause of the decline of the mental health of adolescents. Along the same lines, the Spanish Pediatrics Association It urges to delay until 6 years the exposure to the screens. The recent one Report of the Committee of Experts for the Development of a Safe Digital Environment for Youth and Children This recommendation is echoed, and adds that, up to 16, a mobile device is better without internet connection.
However, the scientific debate is still open. So, A study From the University of Oxford, he recognized that the mobile explained the negative variation in the well -being of adolescents only in 0.4 %. A similar influence, for example, to which they can bring glasses.
Reasons for concern for the use of mobile phone
He smartphone It has become the main internet access route in Western societies. According to data from the National Statistics Institute, in 2023 92 % of the Spanish population between 16 and 74 years used this device to access the Internet. A study From 2025 it reveals that 70 % of children between 10 and 15 years have an intelligent mobile, a figure that reaches 96 % at 15.
The observation of reality allows identifying reasons for the concern about the impact of the mobile on mental health. The high time dedicated to this screen, access to harmful content or risk situations, fomo (acronym for Fear of Missing Out or fear of missing something) that generates constant activity in social networks or insistent exposure to idealized lives and bodies They are some of them.
Six types of users
However, one of the problems to establish causal relationships between mobile and mental health is the difficulty of having longitudinal studies (over time). To alleviate this deficit, a investigation of the group Young people in transition of the Culture and Society Institute (ICS) of the University of Navarra, funded by the La Caixa Social Observatory, has followed for four years a cohort of young Spaniards between 18 and 22 years.
One of the findings is that the impact of the mobile on well -being depends largely on what it is used for. The study data draw six types of users defined by the activities they carry out with their device: organize, study, control health, communicate, inform yourself, curly, consume porn, bet, express affection, evade or entertain themselves.
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The moderate (42 %) have no concrete task that explains their consumption pattern.
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The hyperconnected (19 %) use the mobile for almost all above average.
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The Organized (10 %) stand out for uses related to time management or their lifestyle.
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The Socializers (10 %) use the device more than the average to establish or maintain social relationships.
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The impetuous (10 %) stand out in activities that contain more risk, such as betting or consuming pornography.
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The escapists (9 %) prefer to use it to evade reality.
Although most participants showed symptoms of problematic use, A concept currently under discussionanxiety levels are particularly high among hyperconnected, impetuous and escapists. The latter also show self -esteem and happiness, as well as a lower satisfaction index. The organized, on the contrary, present a higher level of self -esteem and happiness and better satisfaction indices with work, family and leisure.
The self -control factor
In addition to joining the numerous evidence that pointed to the screen time, it was not enough to explain a negative impact on well -being, the study points to the type of use. And it brings another key aspect: self -control, stronger among moderate and particularly weak among hyperconnected.
These two aspects are relevant in the case of adolescents, an age group that raises a special concern for their special affinity to the mobile.
Its ability to self -control is still in development, which potentially increases risk. This can manifest in a special way in the riskiest uses, of particular attraction for this age group, such as pornography or bets.
On the other hand, the variety of possible uses of the mobile is limited by its lower vital autonomy. This means that the motivations associated with work have less importance against leisure, entertainment, evasion or socialization.
Nor can it be ignored that self -control is linked, in the process of maturity, knowledge and assessment of oneself. In this line, a study Recent has analyzed how adolescents use filters to modify their image, as well as their relationship with satisfaction with their body, concluding that overexposure to idealized images in this age can have negative consequences on their self -esteem and self -acceptance. In fact, they already exist initiatives that limit use of filters in content creators.
The challenges posed by this special coexistence of adolescents with mobile internet consumption are numerous. It is important to ensure that the family, educational and social context is aware of nuances to avoid both excessively restrictive and lax measures. It is also necessary to continue research efforts to provide evidence to make decisions.
Charo Sádaba ChalezquerProfessor, marketing department and communication companies, University of Navarra
This article was originally published in The conversation. Read the original.
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