The article states the following: “By chronically raising levels of cortisol, the body’s main stress hormone, our phones may be threatening our health and shortening our lives.”

The evidence that is used to cite such a serious allegation is a study published in the journal Frontiers in Psychiatry that evaluated the cortisol levels of “38 adolescents with excessive smartphone use (SP) and 42 healthy controls (HC).” The study concluded that “more severe withdrawal symptoms were associated with higher cortisol concentrations in adolescents with excessive smartphone use.” There is no such evidence that the use of smartphones causes a rise in cortisol levels nor is there strong a correlation between smartphone overuse and the hormone spike.

I think you’re right in saying the NYT piece belongs in the opinion section, and I agree with you that though the data is compelling the claims made in the article are largely exaggerated.

Thanks for bringing my attention to this piece, I would have missed it otherwise!