I reached for the little green bottle of food colouring from the baking cupboard. Mindlessly, I placed the lid back on after generously pouring a dollop into the icing sugar. It’s approaching Halloween, so needless to say, green is a colour that my children need to colour their much-longed-for sugar cookies. They are a treat! As we admired the fruits of our labour, the idle bottle label caught my attention. I picked it up and read:
“E102 may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children”.
Thinking out loud, I said with exasperation, “Isn’t it great that such almost disregarded ingredients like these have a warning such as this?”. As I spoke the words out loud though, the meaning behind them landed heavily on my thought processes. Especially given the work I do with young people.
You see, I work in Mental health, with both adults and adolescents. I am also currently doing a PhD in the area of Adolescent Mental Health and the impact of Digital technology.
It hit me, why do things such as food labels, cigarettes and alcohol carry warning labels, but Smartphones do not?
There is a mountain of research churned out every day with regard to the negative effects of smartphones on our physical, mental and emotional health. Why then do these devices not carry warnings?
Why Other Products Have Warning Labels
Cigarettes, alcohol, and even sugary drinks carry warning labels because of clear, documented health risks and mounting public pressure for manufacturers to inform users of potential harm. Decades of evidence show that warnings, especially graphic ones, can influence user attitudes and reduce appeal, driving behaviour change and public health improvements.
Doctors, advertising agencies/ads/campaigns, and government policies have all weighed in on the agreement to publish, at every turn, the ill effects that these products carry. Why? Because society and science have widely accepted the evidence behind the research. If they want to be healthier, reduce the risk of diabetes, heart disease, etc., then they will actively work towards reducing sugar, for example, so as to hope for a better quality and a longer life. The same can be said for alcohol, smoking and gambling. Isn’t it alarming that society is lagging when it comes to smartphone usage? What makes us so willing to remain in our addiction of dopamine (the happy hormone that spikes with each little notification ping), to succumb to doom scrolling, and to knowingly hand over technological devices to our children that evidence tells us will most certainly increase their likelihood of anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, isolation and loneliness, decrease their self-esteem, self-confidence, prey on their need to conform, stand out, and point out how they cannot wholly achieve either.
Is it because we enjoy the “quiet” life that we have convinced ourselves that these devices bring us? Are we so strung up on cortisol (the stress hormone that keeps us in a constant fight or flight state) that we just cannot accept doing nothing?
The Unique Risks of Smartphones
Emerging research continues to demonstrate to us that smartphones and social media platforms can foster addictive behaviours similar to those seen with substances. Young people separated from their devices have exhibited withdrawal symptoms like anxiety, confusion, and even panic, comparable to those seen in traditional addiction. A global study has also linked owning a smartphone before age 13 to “alarming mental health declines,” indicating early exposure can be especially harmful.
Research has confirmed that excessive smartphone use is associated with:
- Reduced creativity and productivity
- Depression, loneliness, and diminished real-life social connections; Deterioration in relationships
- Decreased attention span and increased impulsive behaviours
- Deterioration in sleep quality and academic performance
- Cognitive, Emotional, and Behavioural Health Effects
- Decreased ability to self-regulate emotionally.
- Decrease in ability to problem solve
- Increased risk of neurological deterioration later on in life
The mental health impact of smartphones is not speculative. Studies reveal correlations with depression, anxiety, and negative self-image, especially among young users. Both youths and adults report higher stress and lower emotional well-being as screen time increases. Brain studies have shown that constant notifications and fast-paced content can rewire attention mechanisms, affect memory formation, and disrupt emotional regulation. In fact, recent studies have shown that binge-watching “Shorts” or Reels on the likes of those seen on TikTok, YouTube and Instagram, damages the brain 5 times more than drinking alcohol. These quick clips flood the brain with dopamine, training it to crave constant novelty. Over time, slower rewards, like reading, studying or working feel dull, frustrating or unbearable.
Arguments for Warning Labels
Given this evidence, researchers and public health advocates argue that smartphones deserve similar warning protocols as other regulated products:
- Raising Awareness: Warning labels inform consumers about risks, supporting informed decision-making.
- Behavioural Nudging: Timely reminders, notifications, or visual cues embedded within phone settings or packaging can reduce mindless scrolling and addictive patterns.
- Social Responsibility: Technology companies have an ethical duty to disclose potential harms—mirroring the responsibilities shouldered by tobacco and alcohol firms.
In summary, as research deepens and the social and mental health costs become clearer, smartphones need to be increasingly viewed as deserving of the same critical scrutiny as cigarettes and alcohol. Warning labels, supported by scientific evidence of cognitive, emotional, and behavioural risks, present a timely, ethical step to better protect public health, especially for the young and vulnerable.
Katrina Dennehy
Head of Postgraduate Programmes | PCI College