'Text neck': Are smartphones causing more harm to our bodies than we think?

One search of “text neck” or “tech neck” online, and you’ll find no shortage of warnings.

The idea is simple: hours of looking down at our phones are causing an increase in neck pain, with some sources even suggesting it can lead to chronic damage, long-term postural problems and even spinal degeneration.

It’s hardly surprising given our screen habits. Recent data shows the average person now spends 4 hours and 37 minutes on their phone every day - equivalent to over a full day per week, or six days per month. Daily screen time has risen 7.9 per cent since 2013, adding nearly half an hour each day.

Biomechanically, it makes sense why the term "text neck" caught on: tilt your head forward by 60 degrees and the effective weight on your neck rises from about 5kg to more than 27kg, imposing more stress on the cervical spine and surrounding structures.

Several recent studies have suggested links between heavy smartphone use and musculoskeletal pain, with surveys reporting that between 50–84 per cent of users experience discomfort in the neck, shoulders, or upper back. In children, some reviews have found that up to 70 per cent of those spending 5-8 hours a day on screens complain of neck pain.

But is “text neck” really a new medical condition?

Not according to Professor Jan Hartvigsen, an epidemiologist at the University of Southern Denmark and one of the world’s leading spinal pain researchers. “The short answer is that I don’t see it as a real medical condition. It’s a buzzword,” he tells Euronews Health.

Hartvigsen argues that much of the evidence behind text neck is weak. Many studies are small, rely on self-reported surveys, or use cross-sectional designs that cannot show cause and effect.

He also places text neck in a longer history of health panics linked to new technology. "For example, when the first railways were made, it was considered very unhealthy for the back to travel at such high speeds. And when everyone started to have computers in the 90s and we had a mouse, all of a sudden, we had an epidemic of neck and spine problems and arm problems from using the mouse. And today we hardly speak about it anymore. It’s just gone away."

That’s not to say neck pain isn’t real. It’s one of the most common musculoskeletal complaints worldwide, particularly among office workers and students. Experts recommend taking regular breaks from sedentary work and maintaining an active lifestyle outside of work to help reduce discomfort and prevent strain.

But Hartvigsen stresses that pain is multifactorial - linked to stress, sleep, and sedentary behaviour - and not simply caused by looking at a phone. “The neck is a strong structure, shaped by millions of years of evolution. It’s not particularly vulnerable. Trauma from car accidents, violence, or contact sports can injure the neck - but everyday activities usually don’t."

Furthermore, his team’s recent systematic review in the British Journal of Sports Medicine analysed over 100 studies and found no evidence that neck pain is increasing among young people, despite their unprecedented levels of screen time.

So while the term “text neck” makes for a catchy headline, the science behind it remains inconclusive.