Amaravati, October 16, 2025:

A recent investigation challenges the notion that constant smartphone engagement erodes mental well-being, finding no clear connection between daily screen hours and worsening mood across diverse age groups. Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania tracked 500 adults over six months, using self-reports and app data to measure usage patterns, revealing that average daily checks of around four hours correlated with stable or slightly improved sentiment, especially for social connectivity features like messaging.

The findings, published in Computers in Human Behaviour, suggest earlier concerns stemmed from self-selection bias in surveys, where heavy users overstated negativity. Lead author Dr Emily Carter emphasised context: "It's not the device, it's how we wield it."