Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.AllNewsSportCultureLifestyle(Getty Images/iStockphoto)A new study suggests children should not receive a smartphone before age 13, at the earliest, for better mental health outcomes. Researchers from the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia found that while age 13 is safer, smartphone use at this age still poses risks, particularly for sleep health. Previous findings indicated higher odds of poor sleep, depression, and obesity for 12-year-olds who acquired smartphones. The risk of poor sleep, depression, or obesity more than doubles for children spending over five hours daily on their phones compared to two hours or less. Experts recommend setting daily limits on smartphone use and keeping devices out of children's bedrooms at night to mitigate potential health issues. In fullKids shouldn’t be getting smartphones before the age of 13, study findsThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in
Researchers reveal the earliest age kids should get smartphones
Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.AllNewsSportCultureLifestyle(Getty Images/iStockphoto)A new study suggests children should not receive a smartphone before age 13, at the earliest, for better mental health outcomes. Researchers from the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia found that while age 13 is safer, smartphone use at this age still poses risks, particularly for sleep health. Previous findings indicated higher odds of poor sleep, depression, and obesity for 12-year-olds who acquired smartphones. The risk of poor sleep, depression, or obesity more than doubles for children spending over five hours daily on their phones compared to two hours or less. Experts recommend setting daily limits on smartphone use and keeping devices out of children's bedrooms at night to mitigate potential health issues. In fullKids shouldn’t be getting smartphones before the age of 13, study findsThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in
