Parents considering giving a young child a smartphone are being urged to think carefully, as a significant new study links early ownership to serious health problems. Research involving over 10,000 American adolescents has concluded that children who own a smartphone before the age of 12 face a heightened risk of depression, obesity, and insufficient sleep compared to peers without the devices.
Key Findings from the Adolescent Brain Study
The research, which analysed data from the large-scale Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development study collected between 2018 and 2020, directly challenges a smaller 2022 Stanford Medicine study that found no such connection. The team from the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, U.C. Berkeley, and Columbia University examined smartphone ownership, the age of first acquisition, parental monitoring, and socioeconomic factors.
Of the 10,588 young participants, 6,739 owned a smartphone. The study found that even acquiring a device between ages 12 and 13 raised the risk of mental health issues and poor sleep by age 13. These three conditions—depression, obesity, and sleep deprivation—are established risk factors for life-threatening illnesses like heart disease, cancer, and diabetes.
A Growing Trend with Significant Implications
The findings come as smartphone ownership among children continues to climb sharply. Recent data from Common Sense Media shows 51% of children aged eight and younger now have their own mobile device, up from 45% in 2017. Furthermore, a Pew Research Center survey from October found over 60% of parents of 11-12 year olds said their child has a smartphone.
Lead researcher Dr. Ran Barzilay, a child psychiatrist, stated: "Our findings suggest that we should view smartphones as a significant factor in teen health, approaching the decision to give a child a phone with care and considering potential impacts on their life and health."
Striking a Healthy Balance with Technology
However, the researchers are not advocating for the outright removal of phones. They acknowledge smartphones help children socialise and are vital in emergencies. "We're not claiming smartphones are detrimental to all adolescents' health; rather, we advocate for thoughtful consideration of the health implications, balancing both positive and negative consequences," Dr. Barzilay added.
The team issued new recommendations for families, which include:
- Establishing clear terms of use before handing over a phone.
- Setting firm guidelines for use in bedrooms, at dinner, and during homework.
- Adjusting privacy and content settings appropriately.
Dr. Barzilay stressed the critical importance of offline time, stating: "It's critical for young people to have time away from their phones to engage in physical activity, which can protect against obesity and enhance mental health over time."
Looking ahead, the researchers plan to investigate which specific aspects of smartphone use—such as types of apps and usage patterns—are most harmful. They also hope to study children who receive phones before the age of 10. For now, the message is one of cautious management rather than outright prohibition.
