A study released in June 2025 by researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine shows that teens in the U.S. who show addictive behaviors towards phones and social media are more likely to struggle with suicidal thoughts—raising concerns about how these things are really affecting kids.

Mental health issues among teens have been rising in recent years. Many experts have pointed to screen time as a possible cause. However, this new search led by scientists at Weill Cornell Medicine, suggests it’s not just how much time teens spend on their devices, it’s how dependent they feel on them. This new perspective might change the way parents, teachers, and doctors support struggling teens.

The study published by JAMA followed over 4,000 kids from age 9 to 14, monitoring their mental health and screen use. They found that around 25% had developed a growing phone addiction over time, and more than 40% showed signs of being addicted to video games. “And these youth are significantly more likely to report suicidal behaviors and thoughts,” stated by author Yunyu Xiao, a professor at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York. The findings highlight the serious impact on how being addicted to technology can hurt children’s mental health.

Teachers, doctors, and especially parents all play important roles in helping children with these problems. Instead of just limiting how much time kids spend on their phones or video games, experts say its better to focus on how and why kids use them. “Parents, teachers, clinicians should be, on the lookout for warning signs for screen addictions, particularly as they may relate to higher depression risk or suicide risk in teenagers,” Dr. Jason Nagata, a pediatrician specializing in adolescent screen use at the University of California, San Francisco says. Taking away the devices can often cause more stress. Instead, adults should look for signs of addition and work with kids to set health boundaries and find other ways to cope with stress.

Teen suicide has become an increasing concern in the U.S. over the last 20 years, being one of the leading causes of death for young people. The rise of technology such as phones and social media has transformed how people, specifically children, communicate, learn, and spend their free time. These shifts have raised questions about the role technology plays in shaping mental health in younger people. Researchers continue to learn and explore the different ways screen use can affect emotions, behavior, and other social aspects.