Smartphone use linked to declining verbal communication and teen mental health

Recent research highlights a significant decline in verbal communication and a rise in problematic smartphone use among younger populations. Data analyzed by social psychologist Matthias Mehl from Arizona State University indicates that people are speaking approximately 120,000 fewer words per year than in previous years, a trend observed across a broad demographic ranging from ages 10 to 94.

In South Korea, a study of nearly 49,000 adolescents published in PLOS One found a strong correlation between problematic smartphone use (PSU) and decreased sleep satisfaction, anxiety, and loneliness. High-risk teenagers spend an average of seven hours per day on their devices—two hours more than their low-risk peers. The study, conducted by researchers from Semyung University and Kangwon National University, emphasizes that subjective sleep quality and the inability to disconnect from devices are critical indicators of mental health and well-being in youth.