It wasn’t easy, but I had to take back control. I wish I’d waited until she was older (Photo: Gemini)
When 11-year-old Fatma Abdallah*, a bright pupil from Nyali, Mombasa, received her first smartphone as a birthday gift, her parents believed they were giving her a tool for learning and safety. Within months, however, her teachers noticed she was distracted in class, her grades had slipped and she had become withdrawn.
At home, her mother found her scrolling through social media late into the night, exposed to adult conversations and carefully curated images that left her questioning her appearance. What began as an act of love soon became a source of anxiety, raising questions about how early smartphone ownership is shaping the mental health of young girls.
Fatma’s story is far from unique. In Nairobi, 38-year-old Lydia Achieng says she bought her 10-year-old daughter a smartphone so they could stay connected while the child travelled to school.
“It felt safer knowing she could call me at any time,” Lydia says. “But I soon realised she was spending hours watching videos late into the night. She became moody and withdrawn and her grades dropped.”
