A new study from the American Academy of Pediatrics shows that owning and regularly using a smartphone may significantly harm the mental and physical health of pre-teens.
Researchers examined data from 10,000 children, comparing those who received a smartphone before age 12 with those who got their first phone later. The findings were striking:
Pre-teens with smartphones had a 31% higher risk of depression
They were 62% more likely to struggle with insufficient sleep
Smartphone-owning pre-teens were also more likely to experience obesity and other associated health concerns
The study highlights ongoing concerns among pediatric and mental health experts regarding early exposure to digital devices. It also reinforces recommendations for parents to closely monitor screen time, encourage healthy sleep routines, and delay smartphone ownership when possible.