Experts suggest that the sooner a child is allowed to use a smartphone, the better.
What you should know
A new study has found that using smartphones before the age of 12 may increase the risk of sleep deprivation, obesity, and depression in children.
The earlier a child uses a smartphone, the greater the risk of developing such problems, researchers have also said. This is according to a new study published in the journal Pediatrics. The study was led by Dr. Ron Barzilla, a psychiatrist at Children's Hospital in Philadelphia, USA.
'The later a child is allowed to use a smartphone, the better,' Barzilla advised parents.
How was the research conducted?
A team of researchers from the University of Pennsylvania, the University of California, Berkeley, and Columbia University studied data from more than 10,500 participants of different age groups.
In the process, the researchers analyzed data from 2016 to 2022 on children aged 9 to 16. They studied how smartphones influence children and at what age the child got their first smartphone.
The study looked at the differences between children who had smartphones at the age of 12 and those who did not have smartphones at that time. According to this, within 12 years, children with smartphones had a 1.3-fold increased risk of depression, a 1.4-fold increased risk of obesity, and a 1.6-fold increased risk of insomnia.
The study also showed that the risk of such problems increases by 10% every year. That is, the earlier a child gets a smartphone, the greater this risk will be.
The study concludes that such problems are seen in children who use smartphones from the age of 4.
What does the study indicate?
Barzi says, “This study shows signs of a relationship between smartphone use and negative health outcomes in children. Therefore, parents must be aware.”
He added, “In the age of technology, it is not easy to completely separate children from it. My two children also got smartphones before they were 12. However, we need to use it responsibly and develop similar habits in children. Such as not allowing the phone to be used in the bedroom at night, not using it for unnecessary activities, etc.
The American Psychological Association has pointed out that along with controlling screen time, it is necessary to improve the quality of the screen and the child's social interaction.
That is, it is better to allow the child to use the mobile phone only for a certain time and engage the rest of the time in social and physical activities (sports, social interaction, entertainment programs, family work).
