Since the emergence of smartphones, the internet, and social media, numerous theories have highlighted their negative impacts. However, are all of these claims actually true?

An article titled Is the Smartphone Theory of Everything Wrong? A Comprehensive Investigation by Derek Thompson attempts to explore this question. NYU professor Arpit Gupta previously introduced the concept of the Smartphone Theory of Everything, linking smartphone usage to various issues such as mental health problems, gambling addiction, and the formation of information bubbles.

However, finding definitive answers on this matter is not easy. Stanford economist Matthew Gentzkow noted that it is difficult to obtain solid evidence regarding the long-term effects of smartphones and social media.

He explained that it is not feasible to recreate history without the existence of the iPhone or Facebook as a valid experiment. Randomized experiments are typically limited and short-term, while long-term observational data analysis faces significant challenges in establishing causality.

The article also argues that smartphones should not be compared to cigarettes, despite the common use of this analogy. This is because each individual has a different online experience, much like smokers who consume different types of cigarettes.

Research on smartphones is also challenging because their effects are uneven, generally small for most of the population but potentially significant for a smaller group.

The article further highlights that many people tend to overestimate the role of smartphones in spreading misinformation while underestimating their role in disseminating information. One example is a study by Gentzkow involving around 1,700 Americans who deactivated Facebook for four weeks prior to the 2018 midterm elections.

The findings showed that those who stopped using Facebook reported feeling happier, less anxious, and less politically polarized. These results led some to view smartphones and social media as major sources of societal problems.

However, it is important to note that individuals who do not use or deactivate their accounts also tend to be less informed about current events.

Fundamentally, smartphones function as channels for information delivery. They facilitate the constant flow of information, including news, social connections, and interactions that influence individuals.

If smartphone usage contributes to higher levels of depression, belief in conspiracy theories, and anxiety among Americans, it may be due to the nature of the information consumed, which often contains negative, conspiratorial, and anxiety-inducing content.

The article also suggests that the issue with smartphones lies in what is missing from the device itself.

A 2025 study found that randomly removing internet access from smartphones led to positive outcomes such as improved mental health, greater well-being, and better attention retention. However, these benefits were not solely due to the absence of smartphones.

Without internet access, individuals tended to engage more in social activities, exercise, and spending time in nature.