25-08 - Flipbook - Page 30
Mi n i str i es
Don’t give children under age 13
smartphones, new research says
Parents should avoid preteens9 use of smartphones and social media,
according to new research. A study released Monday found that using
smartphones before age 13 could damage kids9 mental health.
Smartphone use by children younger than 13 was associated with suicidal
thoughts, worse emotional regulation, lower self-worth and detachment from
reality, especially among girls, according to the study, which was published
in the Journal of the Human Development and Capabilities.
For every year before age 13 that a person acquired a smartphone, their
mental health and well-being were likely to be lower, the study found.
That9s likely because the kids who used smartphones before turning 13
accessed social media more and experienced sleep disruptions,
cyberbullying and negative family relationships, according to the study. The
data is based on self-reports in a survey of nearly 2 million people in 163
countries.
Kids who used smartphones before age 13 faced sleep disruptions,
Kara Alaimo
