Nearly Half of Global Population Shows Signs of Smartphone Addiction, Lancet Commission Warns

Global health experts warn of rising internet addiction rates. Experts call for urgent action on problematic internet usage.

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As artificial intelligence (AI) turbocharges addictive apps and algorithms, global health experts are sounding the alarm on a growing crisis: Internet addiction now affects nearly half of smartphone users worldwide, with children and teens facing the most significant risks.

Digital technologies and societal problems are becoming increasingly intertwined, creating unprecedented mental health challenges worldwide, according to a coalition of health experts writing in The Lancet Psychiatry. Their statement, published mid-October, aims to develop evidence-based recommendations for addressing what many now consider a worldwide epidemic of internet addiction.

Lack of Safety Data

In the United States, roughly 95 percent of children and adolescents between ages 13 and 17 use social media, and one-third report using these platforms “almost constantly.” A 2023 study found that teens spend an average of five hours per day on social media platforms alone.