Gen Z is struggling psychologically, and the smartphone is often seen as the main culprit. But what does science have to say about smartphone use and its effects on wellbeing and the brain? ‘There is no scientific evidence that phones are the cause of the mental health crisis.’

Anxiety disorders, sleep problems, and mental exhaustion. In recent years, several research reports, books and media reports have sounded the alarm concerning the increased psychological pressure on young people. ‘In the Netherlands, young adults aged 18 to 25 report the lowest degree of satisfaction with their lives of all age groups,’ states a Trimbos dossier on youth mental health. ‘In 2021, 51% of students at research universities and universities of applied sciences reported (mostly mild to moderate) psychological symptoms, and 68% reported emotional exhaustion symptoms.’

‘Endless scrolling, comparing yourself to the entire world: who can remain sane under such circumstances?’

The culprit most often blamed for all this suffering is the smartphone. Endless scrolling, comparing yourself to the entire world, a glaring lack of real life contact: who can remain sane under such circumstances? And hasn’t the increase in mental health complaints coincided with the rise of the mobile phone?

In his recent bestseller, The Anxious Generation, US psychologist and researcher Jonathan Haidt warns of the disastrous consequences of frequent smartphone and social media use among children and adolescents. A message that was eagerly picked up by several Dutch media outlets. A bit too eagerly, according to behavioural scientist Loes Pouwels, who has been researching the effects of social media on young people for years.

‘There is a lot of focus in the media on the negative impact of phone use, but the reality is a lot more nuanced,’ says Pouwels. ‘So far, there is no scientific evidence that phones are the cause of the mental health crisis.’ Pouwels acknowledges that young people are struggling, but according to the Nijmegen-based behavioural scientist, this may be due to other factors. ‘The pandemic restrictions had a major impact on young people’s freedom of movement.

Many of them worry about the climate and war, or they experience performance pressure. In addition, there is an incredible shortage of healthcare that can be offered to this target group.’

Cyberbullying

What scientific research mainly shows, Pouwels explains, is that there are strong differences between young people. ‘A small group does indeed struggle with their phone use, and experiences a real negative impact on wellbeing. These young people are for example unable to stop scrolling, they compare themselves too much to others, or they face cyberbullying. By contrast, a small group experiences mostly positive effects. This category finds friends online whom they might never have met offline. But by far the largest group indicates that phone use has little impact on their wellbeing.’

Yet many of Pouwels’ students also believe that smartphones affect wellbeing, just not so much their own. ‘When I ask students in my lectures whether social media have a positive or a negative impact on their well-being, most report that they themselves have primarily positive experiences, but at the same time they believe it has a much more negative effect on others. We call this the third person effect.

‘They can all list negative effects, but they’re also saying: I’m fine, though.’

So are all the negative stories about the effects of the smartphone based on gut feeling alone? ‘There is some research showing that you sleep a little less well at night if you use your phone just before you go to bed,’ says Pouwels. She also sees that cyberbullying can have dire consequences. ‘Once something is online, it remains there forever.

Gossip accounts and ‘bang lists’ of supposedly ugly or easy girls quickly achieve a very large reach. Then the bullying not only happens in your own class, but it also haunts you at the sports club.’

Sites that spread disinformation and encourage polarisation are also a danger, says Pouwels. As are platforms that disseminate toxic content, such as the infamous ‘pro ana’ sites, on which anorexia sufferers share tricks to get even thinner than they already are.

Phone ban

What many smartphone users themselves describe as a negative effect is that phones can be incredibly distracting. Concentrating on a study assignment or a conversation is much harder with a device next to you.

‘There is a reason why people enjoy being on their phones’

Pouwels recently studied the effects of the recent phone ban in secondary schools, and found that many students have been paying better attention and are less distracted during class. A majority also found that breaks became more fun. ‘Since secretly taking and sharing photos of classmates became much less common, online social safety also improved,’ says Pouwels. ‘On the other hand, offline bullying and fights actually increased slightly.’

Pouwels believes that with all the negative messages about the smartphone, we risk overlooking the positive aspects of social media use. ‘There is a reason why people enjoy being on their phones. You can look up all kinds of information online super fast. It can inspire you to develop new hobbies and interests.

On the popular BookTok, for example, you can get inspiration for new books. Or suppose you’re struggling with your gender identity and you live in a remote village, you can more easily find people online whom you resonate with.’

Pokémon Go

Another advantage, according to the researcher, compared to the pre-social media era, is that it is now much easier to be in touch with your friends. ‘If you’re struggling with something, you can ask for support straight away. That can strengthen and deepen friendships.’ However, one person’s advantage may be another’s disadvantage. ‘You can also become too dependent on your friends. Or experience stress because you think you have to be constantly available. That, in turn, can put pressure on friendships.’

‘For Gen Z, online and offline life are intertwined’

The smartphone is and will remain an important part of young people’s lives. ‘For Gen Z, online and offline life are intertwined, much more so than for previous generations. When they meet in real life, they are often still on their phones. Scrolling through Instagram together or making TikTok videos.’

For the future, says Pouwels, it is therefore especially important to teach young people to deal with the risks and temptations of their phones. ‘But we mustn’t forget to also encourage them to take advantage of the great opportunities that are out there.’

What we can and should put an end to, she says, are the clever tricks used by app designers to keep users endlessly hooked. ‘I think it’s good to combat endless scrolling and videos that keep playing. We should have frameworks from the European Union, so that we get a better grip on these kinds of algorithms.’

And establish guidelines for how much screen time per day is still healthy? ‘There is no unambiguous advice about that. It matters more what you do online: are you sitting passively on the couch scrolling, or are you playing an active game like Pokémon Go?

Finding a good balance between rest, exercise, socialising and screen time works better, says the researcher. To help people with this, the Trimbos Institute and the Media Literacy Network have launched a ‘digital balance model’. ‘This model helps you organise your time in a way that makes you feel good and healthy. But what the right balance is, is different for everyone.’