Smartphones are risky for children under 13: Study

These days, smartphones have reached the hands of not only adults, but also young children. Many children get their own phones at a very young age for education, communication or entertainment. But new research says that giving phones to children before the age of 13 can increase health risks.

The British newspaper Independent reported that a recent study published in the ‘American Academy of Pediatrics’ found that children who get phones at the age of 12 are significantly more likely to have sleep disorders, overweight and depression.

Researcher Ran Barzilay, a child and adolescent psychiatrist at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, conducted this analysis on 10,500 children from 21 regions of the United States.

The study found that children who get phones at the age of 12 have 60 percent more sleep problems and a 40 percent higher risk of obesity or overweight. “There is a direct link between smartphones and mental health problems, depression and poor sleep in early adolescence,” Barzilai said.

For this reason, some countries around the world are already taking action. Australia has banned the use of social media, such as TikTok and Instagram, by children under 16. Several states in the United States have also passed laws to restrict social media for children, requiring parental permission to open accounts for underage teenagers.

Experts warn that children’s use of social media is now being viewed as a “public health crisis.” Former Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel has also urged local lawmakers to follow Australia’s lead.

However, the US company TikTok recently signed an agreement to sell its stake. Now three US companies—Oracle, Silver Lake and Abu Dhabi-based MGX—will own 45 percent of TikTok. This opens up the possibility for children in the United States to continue using TikTok.

Limiting and cautioning children's use of smartphones and social media is now seen as the responsibility not only of parents but also of the state. Failure to ensure safe use can have long-term effects on children's sleep, mental health, and weight.