The World Health Organization (WHO) is urging countries to regulate digital devices, including smartphones.

The call comes in light of evidence that social media and problematic gaming behaviors are negatively affecting the mental health of young people. 

Natasha Azzopardi Muscat, WHO Europe’s director of country health policies and systems, told Politico that regulation is needed akin to tobacco.

“Maybe we need to think about where it is appropriate to use digital devices, and maybe it’s also time to start thinking about places where certain digital devices should not be used,” she said.

Muscat acknowledged the utility of smartphones, but said caution if needed. 

“We have a portion of the population who are reporting problematic use, and we know that this eventually can go on to affect their educational outcomes, their mental health and wellbeing, their productivity in the workforce,” she said.

Ontario bans cell phones in schools

Last month, Ontario’s Minister of Education, Stephen Lecce, announced a strict policy to limit cellphone use in schools. Lecce said the policy change was in response to concerns he’d heard from parents and teachers. Under the new rules, students in kindergarten to Grade 6 must keep phones silent and out of sight all day, while Grades 7 to 12 are not allowed to use phones during class unless permitted by a teacher. 

Meanwhile, some social psychologists, such as Jonathan Haidt, have argued that the rise of smartphones has led to a decline in mental health among adolescents, especially girls.

Haidt argues that social media fosters a culture of constant comparison, which negatively affects young people’s self-esteem.