Experts Reveal the Best Age to Introduce Smartphones to Children
A recent global study has provided a clear answer to a question many parents often ask: At what age is it appropriate—or potentially harmful—for children to start using smartphones?
According to research published in the Journal of Human Development and Capabilities, children should not be given access to smartphones before the age of 13. The study warns that early exposure to smartphones may have damaging effects on children’s mental health and emotional development.
The findings reveal that children under 13 who use smartphones are more likely to experience issues such as detachment from reality, low self-worth, emotional instability, and even suicidal thoughts.
Research further suggests that each additional year of smartphone use before turning 13 can lead to increasing negative impacts on a child’s mental well-being and personality development.
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One of the key concerns highlighted is that smartphones often provide access to social media platforms, which can expose children to cyberbullying, sleep disruption, and weakened family relationships. These factors contribute significantly to emotional and psychological stress.
The comprehensive study surveyed nearly 2 million individuals from 163 countries, making it one of the most extensive studies conducted on the subject. Researchers were alarmed by the results and have called for a global ban on smartphone and social media use among children under 13.
They stressed the urgency of implementing strict regulations, noting that the risks to children’s development are too significant to ignore. While previous studies mostly focused on the link between smartphone use and anxiety or depression in children, this research also explores the broader developmental and emotional consequences.
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Experts are urging policymakers and parents worldwide to take immediate action to safeguard children’s mental health by delaying smartphone exposure until they are developmentally ready.
