Smartphones and mental health: A disturbing connection requires urgent reflection – Matthew Brooker

In this thought-provoking piece, Matthew Brooker reflects on the pervasive influence smartphones have on our lives, particularly their impact on the mental health of young people. Triggered by a tragic incident, Brooker delves into the disturbing rise in anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues among youth, correlating it with the widespread adoption of smartphones. As he contemplates his own habits and parenting choices, a call to reconsider the role of smartphones in our lives emerges, emphasising the need for balance and real-world interactions.

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By Matthew Brooker

It would be difficult to pinpoint the moment the smartphone took control of my life. Like Japanese knotweed, it grew surreptitiously in my mental garden, gradually throttling other forms of attention until it had insinuated itself into almost every activity. I check my screen time rarely, but I remember a sense of vague discomfort a few years ago on seeing that it had passed a daily average of six hours. Recently, it stood at more than 11.

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